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What exactly is meant by "enemy" in the sentence "The natural enemy of silverfish is an insect known as earwig"? Does this mean that earwigs are a predator of silverfish, that silverfish are a predator of earwigs, or that they have the same sources of food and are therefore rivals? --Preceding unsigned comment added by 220.233.169.46 (talk o contribs) 12 November 2005
How To Get Rid Of Silver Fish Video
enemy of librarians!
The silverfish is not always completely harmless -- they can ravage a book collection. For this reason they are often called the enemy of librarians... I will try and dig up a source for this. Brassratgirl 01:35, 14 November 2005 (UTC)
comment on "enemy of librarians!"
Silverfish are not only pests in libraries, but also in museums and archives. An integrated pest management approach can be helpful to manage this pest problem. I posted some sources on the IPM page, check them out.
The silverfish page does a great job of describing the insect and its characteristics.
Trumpetsop (talk) 02:19, 28 July 2008 (UTC)
Comment in regards to "Enemy of Librarians!"
As the user above stated, Silverfish are not just enemies of librarians. I work in an archaeology lab and Silverfish bugs are found everywhere, especially in one of our storage containers. Between of the Silverfish and rodents, a lot of damage has been done to the preservation of the artifacts.
CelticSky13 (talk) 17:05, 24 March 2009 (UTC)
==Bite?== 8-2-17 I'm beginning to wonder if the silverfish in my house haven't somehow cross bred with something ? Or have decided to come out the closet and evolve? I've caught the larvae on my couch ( tanish centipede looking in an s shaped ) these do bite and apparently I'm very allergic to whatever . Diameteuos ? Earth my cure all for anything itchy in my couch and bed!
1-8-2017 I had a silver fish bite my leg it was like an ant bite so they are not innocent. I was sitting on a chair and I noticed that I feel a burning pain on my leg, so I picked up my pants leg up and their it was a silverfish that bite my leg, so I slapped it off and squashed it. -- Preceding unsigned comment added by 96.95.232.1 (talk) 16:10, 7 January 2017 (UTC)
I was just bitten by a silverfish. I had the misfortune of sitting on one on the floor. It but the back of my leg. The bite was like an ant bite. Stung and itched for a few minutes but there was a tiny dot of blood from the bite. Would love to upload a pic I took of it but don't see an option for that. -- Preceding unsigned comment added by 174.97.205.3 (talk) 03:28, 15 August 2016 (UTC)
I was bit by a silverfish. There was a sharp pain on my enter arm. I looked down and there it was. I slapped it right there on my arm. The pain was sharp like an ant or bee sting. I know what I was,felt and killed on my arm. Do silverfish bite? One time I was sitting around on the floor and felt a sharp pain like something had bit me. I looked around and all I saw was a silverfish running around on the floor. --Preceding unsigned comment added by 209.250.30.15 (talk o contribs) 7 April 2006
Of course these are speculations. What we need is info on what a silverfish' 'mouth-appendages' look like and if they would be able to break your skin. Assimilateur 21:26, 7 March 2007 (UTC)
I think you got bitten by a centipede, friend. Even if you really did see a silverfish and not a different long-bodied critter, the two are often found together.
Yes, they bite. I was lying in bed reading one evening, and felt a presence on my forearm. Looking down, it was a silverfish, with which I am quite familiar. Curious, I watched it progress toward my elbow for a few inches and then stop, seemingly to reconnoiter. Suddenly ... OW! A distinct and surprisingly painful pinch. I acknowledge that I saw no mandibles; I didn't actually see what took place. It left no perceptible wound or mark. But I felt it without question. Jfiks (talk) 16:01, 22 February 2009 (UTC)
I really don't think that silverfishes or any other "creatures" are stupid. Would you like to be called like that, Link's Awakening? --Preceding unsigned comment added by 89.120.236.22 (talk) 08:59, 31 August 2009 (UTC)
I woke up the other night and killed a silverfish on my stomach. The next morning I had a red patch the size of two half dollars between my belly button and belt line. It was sore for a day, itched for a day and then disappeared. There is a clear "bite" mark on my stomach. --Preceding unsigned comment added by 209.234.185.30 (talk) 19:40, 24 February 2010 (UTC)
We've had silverfish in the last 3 apartments we've lived in, all nice places. Not sure if they traveled in our stuff, but I exterminate like a mad crazy lady. I hate insects, but would rather have silverfish than any other sort of pest - even ants. Last night I was about to jump into bed when I felt a painful sting on the inside of my thigh. Behold there was a bug on my leg and IT BIT ME! I've never had problems with silverfish biting before and know that they're known to NOT bite, but I think some of these critters have lost their minds and DO bite. I smashed the bug with my phone into the carpet, but most of the bug is still in tact. It looks like a lighter silverfish - it's not a centipede either - seen those, killed those, but my confirmation was the silver streaks on the backside of my phone. Silverfish leave a silver streak behind them. As I cleaned off my phone I can see the silver - almost like faint glitter left behind where I smashed the bug. I clean my phone regularly so it's not from anything else. So it looks like sometimes people DO get bit by silverfish even though people say they don't bite. I watched this stupid thing on my leg bite me. the mark is tiny and red, nothing more. -- Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.248.133.108 (talk) 19:51, 23 September 2013 (UTC)
Control by Freezing
Please add information about control by freezing -- how long at what temperature to kill adults? This seems like possibly a good way to treat an infested pile of important papers. Is it possible to kill silverfish eggs this way? How long at what temperature? (http://www.midwestfreezedryltd.com/Non_Toxic%20Pest%20Control.htm)69.87.202.29 13:39, 29 August 2006 (UTC)
Can the silverfish survive in extreme temperatures like Michigan and Wisconsin during the winter? (Dms99) --Preceding unsigned comment added by Dms99 (talk o contribs) 17:25, 25 February 2008 (UTC)
I just saw one climbing up my comforter, flicked it off, and lost sight of it as it landed on the carpet, after I realized how long they can survive without food, I freaked out and came to the realization that I should've dealt with it in a different way!!! --Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.211.215.223 (talk) 05:50, 24 May 2011 (UTC)
Squish
When crushed, the silverfish may release a pheromone that can attract others to the location. Sanitizing the area with a light bleach solution should destroy any pheromone present.
Fishlike movements?
The article says that it gets the 'fish' part of its name from its fishlike movements. Having seen many of these insects, I haven't noted such a movement. I rather thought the name came from the fact that the silverfish is scaly. Alpheus 01:12, 13 February 2007 (UTC)
Resemblance to crustaceans
I was under the impression that silverfish were soft-shelled crustaceans, not insects, and there does appear to be some confusion as to this. My understanding stemmed from a)being told they were, and b) the characteristics they share in common with modern land-based crustacea (such as woodlice). The segmented armour (though I'm not about to suggest they're of the same order as armadillos) and in particular, the gills (I read they have gills) seemed to confirm it. Plus they're prehistoric bottom feeders occupying similar niches with regard to diet. Also, I'm pretty sure I've seen more than one turn red when boiling water is dumped on it. Could have been the scales washing off. Mainly what had me convinced was the articulation of the body - very few insects seem to writhe like that. Yes I am aware crabs don't either...
Perhaps a more knowledgeable peep would address this in a new section? I did notice a few googloid articles on convergent evolution of silverfish and crustaceans. And if anyone does feel like adding it, boiling water is an excellent way to kill off a population that feeds on food starch in and around the kitchen sink. 172.143.144.156 04:17, 7 June 2007 (UTC)
Vandalism?
Leaving a fingernail clipping (incidentally shaped similarly to silverfish) on the ground appears to ward them off.
Is this a joke?
Not sure if it was a joke but my Grandma used flakes of ivory soap to get rid of them. Not sure what the logic was or if she even knew herself, but the practice came from somewhere whether it actually worked or not. May have been some old superstition with past generations and could have come from the same basis as leaving finger nails around.
Number of legs?
I saw what I know realize is a "house centipede" in my sink today, and mistakenly thought it was a silverfish, and so did this research. Now, the article points out that the S-fish is an insect. Don't insects necessarily have 6 legs? On the pictures here, it seems to have many apendages... are only six in fact legs? Although it isn't as clear cut a myriapod os the HCs that I now realize infest my house to at least a small degree... --Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.164.147.147 (talk) 01:50, 13 April 2008 (UTC)
Silverfish bugs: [1] have 6 legs, what you probably saw were it's antenna's (or tail portion) but those aren't legs nor do they support movement. -- Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.193.191.5 (talk) 23:47, 8 April 2016 (UTC)
Images show other species?
Howdy,
I strongly suspect 3 of the 4 images currently in the article do not show the Lepisma the article is about but rather a Ctenolepisma (possibly C. longicaudata??) - much too "hairy" for my taste. Does the photographer have vesions showing the full length of the antannae/cerci?? Btw, not all images are on Commons ... please look into it. Also, the "bite" passage discussed above is still in the article - my bet on that is "Urban Legend", although some people with (very?) delicate skin seem to be able to get bitten by insects not generally known for biting v_v Cheers. - Pudding 20:34, 18 April 2008 (UTC)
same sources of food and are therefore rivals? --Preceding unsigned comment added by 220.233.169.46 (talk o contribs) 12 November 2005
I agree: Those two hi-res pictures dont't show L. saccharina. I'd guess it's rather Thermobia domestica, but I'm not completly sure.--91.65.52.241 (talk) 21:31, 28 April 2009 (UTC)
Yes, those two images look more like the Firebrat: [2]
MRCAB666 (talk) 11:27, 23 September 2009 (UTC)
Bite?
Do silverfish bite? One time I was sitting around on the floor and felt a sharp pain like something had bit me. I looked around and all I saw was a silverfish running around on the floor. --Preceding unsigned comment added by 209.250.30.15 (talk o contribs) 7 April 2006
Of course these are speculations. What we need is info on what a silverfish' 'mouth-appendages' look like and if they would be able to break your skin. Assimilateur 21:26, 7 March 2007 (UTC)
Found a Silverfish on my foot after experiencing a prolonged sharp pain there. It was hiding under my trousers. Normally these are a silver color but this one had changed to a dark brown. It ran off my foot but I squashed it and that dark color turned out to be my own blood. Examining the wounds, one was small and might be called a bite but the second appeared at first to be a hole - like it had been chewed or as if it had been dissolved. A picture taken of the area revealed a multiple number of smaller 'dissolved' portions of skin (blood visible) covering an area of 3mm X 2mm. -- Preceding unsigned comment added by 2602:306:C5F8:F590:35C7:5F58:DCDF:3B4C (talk) 07:18, 13 November 2017 (UTC)
I think you got bitten by a centipede, friend. Even if you really did see a silverfish and not a different long-bodied critter, the two are often found together.
Silverfish do bite. From experience, it feels like a strong mosquito bite or biting fly. It leaves what starts out as a small bump, like a goosebump when you're cold. It can then grow and turn red depending on how sensitive you are to their bite. I have found that after being bitten, if you don't aggravate the bite by rubbing or scratching, it will usually disappear soon after. Much like a mosquito bite. -- Preceding unsigned comment added by 160.3.185.164 (talk) 14:14, 18 July 2015 (UTC)
I know for a fact that they do cause pain and marks somehow. My daughter (age 9) asked me if they bite and I said no. I've always heard that they were harmless. She was handling a 1 inch silverfish gently and passed it to my 3 year old son. I watched as he held it with an open hand happily, but then it began to crawl up his arm. Then he suddenly yelled "ow! It hurts!" My daughter looked, thinking he was fooling and remarked that it looked as if the thing was holding onto his skin with its legs. Then it died because my son smacked it in reaction to the second sharp pain. There are two tiny but noticeable white raised bumps on his skin where the silverfish last walked before it met it's demise. I washed it with soap and water. It looks like the equivalent of what a sweet ant can do when it feels threatened or thinks you're tasty. -- Preceding unsigned comment added by 107.209.172.159 (talk) 04:54, 29 March 2016 (UTC)
I was in my son's room this evening and felt a sharp small pain like a bug bite. Look down at my arm and there was a silverfish biting me! No where in the Internet can you confirm a bite, but Wikipedia knows better! -- Preceding unsigned comment added by Kaerobanis (talk o contribs) 07:40, 16 April 2016 (UTC)
I know I was just bit by one of these little shiny s***s on the right side, on my right thigh, 2 inches above my knee. Not painful, just super noticeable and quick. Definitely annoying, definitely a silverfish. Little bastard was in my bed with me and I guess I almost smushed him so he bit me, apparently my leg was it's last meal, cause I definitely smushed it after it bit me. -- Preceding unsigned comment added by 2600:100C:B206:4DBB:29A7:53E1:3A65:B2B3 (talk) 09:23, 19 June 2017 (UTC)
Author: krzysiuuk Date: 12 february 2018
I'm writing this so if someone has a similar situation he'll be able to find out that he was not the first to whom it happened, because I couldn't find any similar stories on the internet and it really bothered me.
I've had an unusual situation, that considered silverfish, recently.
Just 4 days back from the day I'm writing this I've found a silverfish curled into a ball inside my skin, just barely protruding from my skin.
I noticed a weird graphite-like shiny-grey thing in the skin of the inner side of my thigh. At first I thought it was a scab after a pimple or an ulcer (<-idk if it's the right word), but the fact that it resembled a graphite pencil tip so much made me check if I could squeeze it out (it was the first thing that came to my mind back then). I did so and then I put it on a piece of toilet paper. It was clearly a silverfish. I've been struggling fighting them in my house for years.
It was slightly peeping out of my skin when I noticed it. After extraction it didn't show any signs of life, it didn't move at all (what is unlikely for these species). After few minutes of staring at it stupidly, trying to figure out what did I just find in my leg, I simply threw it into the toilet to avoid thinking about these shiny little sons of bitches crawling up my body when I sleep and just told myself it was a ball of pus after a pimple.
Today I finally connected threads and realised what was this creepy ball-looking thing in my thigh, because I've just found a silverfish in a sink and it reminded me of that unusual situation.
Colour and abilities
In the article it is written that the name "silver" comes from the colour of the silverfish. However I rather say it comes from the fact that when pressed on a white paper it leaves silver marks.
One of the abilities I did not see mentioned anywhere is the possibilities for it to climb on vertical walls and on ceilings.
Pretty sure vertical/inverted walking is a common ability for smaller invertebrates (such as ants) and doesn't need to be noted specifically. 97.87.112.28 (talk) 14:43, 20 October 2009 (UTC)
Where?
I don't understand why it isn't, apparently, standard practice in zoology articles to indicate the geographical range of the creature. --Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.229.62.47 (talk) 03:50, 6 August 2008 (UTC)
Wrong Citation?
{{editsemiprotected}}
In the article it states that in extremes silverfish can survive a year without eating - the reference given does not contain this information anywhere therefore is wrong?
Oggie6969 (talk) 07:30, 6 August 2008 (UTC)
Reference #11 has the year transposed: it should be 1956 instead of 1965 -- Preceding unsigned comment added by Briesas (talk o contribs) 20:11, 13 May 2015 (UTC)
Often misidentified as a silverfish is the house centipede?
The article says "Often misidentified as a silverfish is the house centipede" but this seems unlikely - the article on that creature shows no resemblance! Can anybody support this queer statement? DavidFarmbrough (talk) 22:29, 12 November 2008 (UTC)
can anyone tell us how to exterminate the silverfish? please help, our daughter lives in San Fran has been calling about this issue in her new apartment, the landlord is no help. Marilyn --Preceding unsigned comment added by 96.42.166.33 (talk) 00:08, 3 April 2009 (UTC) The silverfish isnt often mistaked with a household centepede. Its commonly mistaken with the firebrat.
Age
How old can a silverfish be?
It feels like that is something one would expect to find in this article.
Brainz (talk) 01:07, 29 April 2009 (UTC)
2 to 8 years old -- Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.134.90.15 (talk) 23:04, 7 February 2012 (UTC)
Predators
The article states that it is rare for spiders to attack and eat silverfish yet provides no evidence to back this up. In my experience I have only ever seen silverfish be attacked twice, by spiders on both occasions, shouldn't we remove the "in rare cases" bracket?
Habitat
LOL. Wikipedia is such Epic Fail. Reading the Habitat section only discusses these insects living in kitchens and bathrooms. Do they not exist in nature at all? Really? --93.106.82.242 (talk) 18:29, 18 July 2009 (UTC)
178.228.2.151 (talk) 15:54, 7 August 2010 (UTC)
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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