Responses of the Silverfish, Lepisma saccharina L.

, to
Its Physical Environment*
HARVEY L. SWEETMAN, Massachusetts State College, Amherst

The silverfish is a common household jured individuals (Garman 1906, Morita

pest in many parts of the world. This 1926).
insect is nocturnal and for that reason METHODS Ol~ HANDLING.-The tech-
frequently becomes numerous before be- nique of handling the silverfish in cages is
ing observed. The pest is quick and aCtive the same as that used with the firebrats
and when disturbed darts under or behind and was described in an earlier paper
some objeCt or into a crevice. (Sweetman 1938).
DISTRIBUTION.-Lepisma saccharina L. EGG STAGE.-The eggs of Lepisma
is distributed widely through the humid saccharina are soft and white in color
portions of the temperate and tropical when first laid. Shortly after exposure to
zones. It can maintain itself in dry por- the air the color changes to yellow and
tions of these zones if in a humid environ- finally to light brown within a few hours
ment such as exists in basements of (Dietz 1912). Unexposed eggs do not
houses and frequently around water pipes become as dark as exposed eggs. The
and drains. Likewise it may penetrate eggs at first are fairly plump, but by the
into and maintain itself in cold climates time the brown color is assumed they are
if suitable temperature and moisture con- likely to be somewhat shriveled. The eggs
ditions are available. Such environments are laid singly or only two or three to-
commonly exist in human habitations. gether. A laying female usually deposits
FOOD HABITs.-The silverfish com- from one to three eggs per day and may
monly is reported as living upon starchy deposit on a number of successive days
materials almost exclusively (Whitmarsh or at intervals of several days or even
1912, Dietz 1912, Marlatt 1915, Mohr weeks. Usually the eggs are hidden in
1923, Morita 1926, McDaniel 1928, crevices or under objects, but occasional~y
Gibson & Twinn 1929, Marcovitch 1933, are dropped loosely wherever the female
Haseman 1935, Reichmuth 1936, Back happens to be (Dietz 1912, Sanborn 1919,
1937, Turner 1937). Frequently they Back 1931, 1937). The color of the chorion
attack starched cloth and paper, espe- is sufficiently dark that the embryos are
cially glazed types of paper such as are not visible at any time preceding hatch-
used in record books, filing cases and ing. Even when the embryo is fully devel-
books. Sizing used for such papers fre- oped the shriveled condition of the
quently contains animal matter, and the chorion remains, making it difficult to
glue in book bindings is attraCtive to the determine if the embryo is alive.
pests. Garman (1906, 1917) emphasized The eggs were exposed in wide ranges
the importance of animal matter (pro- of constant temperature and relative
tein) in the diet of the pests, and a few humidity. Eggs hatched at temperatures
papers since have repeated this informa- ranging from 22 degrees to 32 degrees C.,
tion (Felt 1917, Chapman 1921, Flint but the highest percentage hatched at 22
1922, Mohr 1923, Morita 1926, Davis degrees, the lowest temperature at which
1928). Cereals such as whole wheat flour eggs were exposed. The threshold of de-
and breakfast cereals are much preferred velopment was estimated to be near 15
to starch materials. Animal products, degrees. Eggs hatched in moisture envi-
such as fresh dried beef, are eaten eagerly ronments above 50 per cent relative
and may be an essential portion of the humidity at 22 degrees and 27 degees,
diet. If fed only whole wheat flour or but only above 75 per cent at 29 degrees
Mead's cereal for about 2 weeks and then and 32 degrees. The average incubation
offered fresh dried beef they eat the latter period varied from 43 days at 22 degrees
ravenously, fighting among themselves to 19 days at 32 degrees. Back (1931,
for the food. They are cannibalistic and 1937), apparently following Morita (1926),
eat their own cast skins and dead or in- states that hatching occurs in from 6 to 10
days in warm weather. This apparent
* Contribution from the Entomological Laboratory of Massa- response to temperature was not con-
chusetts State College, Amherst.

698
October 1939 SWEETMAN:
SILVERFISH
ANDENVIRONMENT 699

firmed by the writer, however. This dif- percentage of oviposition took place in
ference along with a nwnbcr of others environments of 84 to 100 per cent. An
suggests that Morita either worked with average of approximately 100 eggs was
a different species or made faulty observa- laid at 22 degrees and 27 degrees, about
tions. The length of the incubation period 70 at 29 degrees and I at 32 degrees. Back
increased from 1 to 5 days, depending (1931, 1937) and Morita (1926) suggest
upon the temperature when the relative that not more than 10 to 12 eggs are laid
humidity was below 75 per cent. by each female. Temperatures much
NnlPHAL STAGE.-~ewly hatched above 32 degrees usually killed the
nymphs were exposed in wide ranges of nymphs or adults in a few hours. In
constant temperature and relative humid- natural environments this insect avoids
ity until maturation. Maturation of the unfavorable conditions and would likely
nymphs occurred at 22 degrees, 27 de- escape from any attempts of control by
grees, 29 degrees and 32 degrees C. in temperature.
environments with relative humidity The length of life of the adults varies
above 60 per cent. All of the nymphs died considerably in different environments.
regardless of the moisture conditions at Several of the adults exposed at 22 de-
37 degrees and 40 degrees. The greatest grees are still alive and reproducing after
percentage of development occurred in about 3! years. The majority of individ-
moisture conditions above 75 per cent. uals live about 2 years at 27 degrees, al-
The percentage maturing dropped consid- though some attained an age of well over
erably at 32 degrees over that at lower 3 years. A few lived somewhat over 2
temperature. The age at which matura- years at 29 degrees, while about I! years
tion occurs is impossible to determine is the maximum at 32 degrees.
definitely since molting occurs throughout COMPARISON WITH THE FmEBRAT.-
life, and the period varies considerably, The silverfish, in contrast with its close
depending upon the temperature. k. life relative, the firebrat, requires much lower
cycle of 2 to :3 years from egg to adult temperature and higher moisture condi-
has been attributed generally to this tions than the latter pest. Its food habits
insect (Sanborn 1919, Mohr 1923, Back are very similar to those of the firebrat.
1931, 1937), but reproduction in favor- The reproductive habits are quite differ-
able environments may take place when ent. While the eggs are hidden in crevices
the insect is only :3 to 4 months of age. and debris where conditions are favorable,
Back (1931, 1937), again apparently fol- only one to four eggs are laid at a time or
lowing Morita (1926), states that matura- on a singleday. Thefirebratlaysanumber
tion occurs in 7 to 9 months in tropical of eggs in a batch, all within a fewminutes.
climates. Growth usually continues long CONCLUSIONs.-Thesilverfish is a com-
after the first reproduction takes place mon household pest which feeds on a
and may continue throughout life. number of foods rich in protein, if avail-
The newly hatched nymphs are naked, able, rather than carbohydrates, as
milky white in color, and are more plump commonly reported. The insect develops
and less active than later instars. Follow- and reproduces best at temperatures of
ing the first molt the nymphs are more 22 degrees to 27 degrees C. and relative
slender and much more active. At the humidities of 75 to 97 per cent. It is a
third molt they become clothed with long-lived insect, frequently attaining an
scalcs. The first instar lasts 2 to 4 days; age of well over :3 years, yet it may begin
the second 7 to 10 days. Sanborn (1919) reproduction when only 3 to 4 months old.
reports that the first molt occurs immedi- In favorable environmcnts an average of
ately after hatching, but this was not ob- about 100 eggs may be laid. The incuba-
served to occur. Later instars in favorable tion period varies from :3 to 7 weeks at
conditions last from 2 to 3 weeks. temperatures of 22 degrees to 32 degrees.
ADULTSTAG E.-Reproduction of the The newly hatched nymphs are naked,
silverfish occurred in environmental tem- but become clothed with scales at the
peratures of 22 degrees, 27 degrees, 29 third molt. The silverfish molts through-
degrees and 32 degrees C. About 20 out life and continues to grow throughout
females with males were exposed in each most if not all of its life. The first instar
temperature of the above series. Nearly lasts only 2 to 4 days, but after the second
all of the reproduction occurred above 75 or third instar molting occurs every 2 or
per cent relative humidity and the highest :3 weeks for the remainder of life.-4-1-39.
700 JOURNALOFECONOMIC
ENTOMOLOGY Vol. 32, No.5

LITERATURECITED
Back, E. A. 1931. The silverfish as a pest in the household. U. S. Dept. Ag. Farmers' Bul. 1665: 1-5.
Back, E. A. 1937. Silverfish. U. S. Dept. Ag. Leaflet 149: 1-4.
Chapman, R. N. 19U. Insects infesting stored food products. Minn. Ag. Exp. Sta. Bul. 198: 59-60.
Cornwall, J. W. 1915. Lepisma saccharin a, its life history and anatomy and its gregarine parasites.
Indian Jour. l\fed. Res. 3: 116-34.
Davis, J. J. 19~8. Insect problems of the home. Ind. Ag. Exp. Sta. Circ. 150: 8-9.
Dietz, H. F. 19a. Insects that affect the household and man. Ind. Fifth Ent. Rep. 19!1-4.
Felt, E. P. 1917. Household and camp insects. N. Y. St. Mus. Bul. 194: 56.
Flint, W. P. 19~~.The control of household insects. TIl. Ag. Exp. Sta. Circ. 257: !l0-1.
Garman, H. 1906. Does the silver-fish (Lepisma saccharina L.) feed on starch and sugar? Eighteenth
Ann. Meet. Assn. Econ. Ent.; U. S. Dept. Ag. Ent. Bul. 60: 174-6.
Garman, H. 1917. Household pests and their treatment. Ky. Ag. Exp. Sta. Circ. 15: 87-90.
Gibson, A., and C. R. Twinn. 19~9. Household insects and their control. Can. Dept. Ag. Bul. 112: 46,
n. s.
Haseman, L. 1935. Insect pests of the household. Mo. Ag. Exp. Sta. Bul. 356: !l4-5.
Marcovitch, S. 1933. How to combat certain pests of the household. Tenn. Ag. Exp. Sta. Bul. 147: 8.
Marlatt, C. L. 1915. The silverfish; an injurious household insect. U. S. Dept. Ag. Farmers' Bul.
681: 1-4.
McDaniel, E. I. 19~8:.Cockroaches, silver-fish, and book-lice. Mich. Ag. Exp. Sta. Circ. 101: 7-10.
Meyer, A. E. 1932. Uber Helligkeitsreaktionen von Lepisma saccharina L. Zeitschr. f. Wissenschaft.
Zool. 142: 254-312.
Mohr, E. 1923. Diologisches tiber Lepisma 8accharina L. ZooI. Anz. 56: 174-81.
Morita, H. 1926. Some observations on the "silverfish" (Lepisma saccharina L.) (Thys.). Proc. Haw.
Ent. Soc. 6: ~71-3.
Reichmuth, W. 1936. Die Wohnungsfischchen und ihre Bekampfung. Zeitschr. hyg. Zool. Schadl-
Bekampf. 28: 65-71. (Abstract in Rev. App. Ent. 26A: 37.)
Sanborn, C. E. 1919. The fish moth. Twenty-eighth Ann. Rep. Okla. Ag. Exp. Sta. 43-44.
Sweetman, Harvey L. 1938. Physical ecology of the firebrat, Thermobia domestica (Packard). Ecol.
Monog. 8: 285-311.
Turner, N., and B. H. Walden. 1937. Some common household insects and their control. Conn. Ag.
Exp. Sta. Bul. 400: 846-7.
Whitmarsh, R. D. 1912. Insect pests of the household. Ohio Ag. Exp. Sta. Bul. 253: 133.

Experiments Using Several Insecticides With and Without

Wetting Agents and Stickers for Boll Weevil Control
C. F. RAINWATER, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine

In South Carolina there is definite need trol the weevil and at the same time over-
of a substitute for calcium arsenate in come the objections to the use of calcium
control of the boll weevil, Anthonornus arsenate. Each experiment consisted of
grandis Boh. There are two reasons for six treatments replicated six times on
this need. The first, and foremost, is the one-twentieth-acre plots arranged in a
fear of growers that soil injury will result Latin square. The plots in all experiments
from applying calcium arsenate to the contained eight rows of sufficient length
cotton plants, and the second is the in- to make one-twentieth of an acre. Two
crease in plant lice population which rows on each side of each plot and 10-foot
usually follow several successive applica- strips at the ends of each plot were left
tions of calcium arsenate and which fre- untreated.
quently reduces the yield of cotton below INSECTICIDES TESTED.-The following
that produced on untreated plants. The three groups of in~ecticides were tested:
evils of calcium arsenate have been widely (1) Calcium arsenate, which was used in
publicized in the newspapers of the state each of the four experiments, for compari-
and, while statements concerning these son with the other insecticides; (2) two
conditions are not without foundation, nicotine compounds, one containing nico-
they are often exaggerated, and as a result tine bentonite and the other nicotine
many farmers are hesitant to use the bentonite plus nicotine tannate; and (3)
standard recommendations for boll weevil two cryolite dusts, one a finely ground
control. During 1938 four experiments synthetic cryolite containing 90.8 per
were conducted near Florence, S. C., in an cent of sodium Huoaluminate, of which
effort to find a substitute that would con- 88 per cent of the particles were less than