Definition

1. Noun:
   • A small, wingless insect with a silvery-grey body: Lepisma saccharina is a species of primitive insect, commonly known as the silverfish. It is characterized by its tapered, fish-like shape, silvery scales, and long antennae.
   • A household pest: This insect is typically found in human dwellings, where it feeds on materials containing polysaccharides, such as the starch in book bindings, wallpaper paste, and clothing.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • We found a Lepisma saccharina behind the old bookshelf.
  • The damage to the book's spine was likely caused by Lepisma saccharina.

Advanced Usage

• Scientific classification: The term is used in formal, scientific, or entomological contexts to refer specifically to this species, distinguishing it from other insects in the order Zygentoma.
  • The study focused on the reproductive cycle of Lepisma saccharina.

Variants and Related Words

• Silverfish (n): The common name for .
  • Silverfish are often found in damp, dark places like basements.
• Zygentoma (n): The insect order to which silverfish belong.
• Thysanura (n): An older, now less common taxonomic name for the order containing silverfish.

Synonyms

• Silverfish: The most common synonym.
• Bristletail: A broader term for insects in the order Zygentoma, which includes silverfish.

Related Phrases

• Silverfish infestation: A phrase describing a problematic number of these insects in a home or building.
  • The library had to treat the archive for a silverfish infestation.

Noun

1. silver-grey wingless insect found in houses feeding on book bindings and starched clothing