Silverfish

Frequently called a silverfish, fishmoth or firebrats, they are small, wingless insects of the order Thysanura. Its common name comes from the animal's silvery light grey and blue color. It is a scale covered, wingless, carrot-shaped insect about 1/2 inch long as adults with three long "bristle tails" at the end of the body combined with the fish-like appearance of its movements. Their diet consists of carbohydrates such as sugar or starches. Silverfish and Firebrats are gray colored.

Silverfish feed on stored foods, book bindings, paper, fabrics, dog food, flour, book bindings and most anything containing proteins, carbohydrates, and starches that are also protein sources. Firebrats prefer higher temperatures and require some humidity and can be found in bakeries and near boilers or furnaces.

They are distributed through most parts of the world and are normally found outdoors under rocks, and leaf litter but are also often found indoors where they are considered pests. Silverfish are primarily a nuisance inside homes or buildings as they do not cause major damage, though they can contaminate food, damage paper goods, and stain clothing.

They are mostly harmless. Residual sprays or dusts applied to all hiding and resting areas are most used for control. Reducing harborage (sheltering) sites may be necessary to completely eliminate an infestation.