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The Goliath of Them All! : Giant Gray Silverfish

-(Ctenolepisma longicaudata)

Also commonly referred to as the “long-tailed silverfish” or the “giant silverfish,” the Gray Silverfish is slightly larger than the Common Silverfish, ranging in size from 5/8-3/4 in. Contrasting with the Common, the Gray is always uniformly light to dark gray, but shares some behavioral characteristics.

For more details about the Giant Gray Silverfish:

• Diet and Habitat
• Identification
• Life Cycle

Diet and Habitat

Diet is similar to the Common, including paper of high-chemical pulp, paste, starched clothing, etc. Like the Common, the Gray is rarely if ever found outside and lives in cracks and crevices all over home in basements, attics, closets, garages, etc. The most abundant Silverfish in Australia, it is often found in a few Southern and Eastern states as well as California and Hawaii. The Gray Silverfish is also nocturnal and avoids direct light, but causes more damage to paper and fabrics than the Common Silverfish or the Firebrat.

Ventilators and heating conduits originating from a basement heavily facilitates the spreading of the Gray. Need to get the Gray Silverfish out of your home? Safe homes avoid toxic chemicals – use EcoSMART Home Pest Control, a safe alternative.

Identification

The abdomen has median setal combs (tufts of hair) on the top but lacks them below. The first instar (period between molts) lacks these combs as well as scales; both are developed during the 4th instar. Genitalia are developed in the 14th instar and maturity is reached after 2-3 years. The rear of the abdomen has two pairs of styli appendages jutting out, along with the typical medial filament.

Life Cycle

Adults may continue molting 3-5 times per year for another five years.

The females lay larger clusters of eggs than the Common, ranging in size from 2-20 eggs per lay with an interval of days or weeks in between lays, and then places them in crevices and cracks.

Gray Silverfish are often confused with Firebrats and Jumping Bristletails.