Lepisma saccharina

BingoTheClowno · Post by **BingoTheClowno** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 8:54 pm

...also know as the Silverfish, was the insect that I found in the bathtub. So what's so interesting about it you may ask? Well, at first I was intrigued by it's looks, it reminded me of the Trilobites insects of the Cambrian period. So I captured one and investigated it under the microscope. I was stunned when I realized it was covered with SCALES!!! So, what is the most interesting about the Silverfish is that it hasn't changed in 300,000 years!!!! It is a living fossil!!!

This is electron microscope photo of it from http://www.mta.ca/dmf/silverfish.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1Hjx18H ... re=related

Gordon Gekko · Post by **Gordon Gekko** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 1:40 am

word is if you drop a few tears on it it'll expand to the size of a human

but the question is: how did it get there?

Zer · Post by **Zer** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 3:26 am

smart picture, although I woudn`t like to store the fishes at home. By the way... Doesn`t your wife argue about them?

BingoTheClowno · Post by **BingoTheClowno** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 8:56 am

It got in through the overflow opening and they cannot climb the walls of the bathtub. And even though they have scales and they are called "fish", let me tell you, they are the worst insect swimmers I've ever seen, they drown pretty fast.

And, Zer, I assume all typical women would be grossed out. Most women are into "pretty" things and adverse to science.

Gordon Gekko · Post by **Gordon Gekko** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 9:04 am

BingoTheClowno wrote: they are the worst insect swimmers I've ever seen, they drown pretty fast.

could you emphasize on this? how did you get to the point where you observed their drowning (ok maybe we can put a lot of s's here) s?

BingoTheClowno · Post by **BingoTheClowno** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 9:17 am

They are rare, I see one maybe once a year normally in the morning when I take a shower. Since their appearances are so rare, last week I decided to capture it.

Gordon Gekko · Post by **Gordon Gekko** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 9:27 am

oh, I thought they were microscopic. fuck man those must be scary, do they bite?

astroman · Post by **astroman** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 9:33 am

well, at least not so rare that your action will endanger the further existence of the species in your flat.

if they made for 300 million years, they probably know how to survive...

cheers, Tom

Shroomz~> · Post by **Shroomz~>** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 9:36 am

Afaik they're quite common in the UK. Dunno about elsewhere, but I've seen them several times both in Scotland & England @ about 10mm in length. Strange little beasts.

BingoTheClowno · Post by **BingoTheClowno** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 9:53 am

Yes, they are about a half inch in length. The electron microscope image is at the lowest resolution possible, 35X. Apparently they are not very well adapted for claimbing smooth surfaces.

Here is an electron microscope image of their scales magnified 1000X

Post by **garyb** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 11:24 am

very common.
they're known for eating the paste out of old books, etc.
they normally stay out of sight....

here's the obligatory wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silverfish

BingoTheClowno · Post by **BingoTheClowno** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 4:09 pm

astroman wrote:well, at least not so rare that your action will endanger the further existence of the species in your flat.
if they made for 300 million years, they probably know how to survive...

cheers, Tom

Yes, they know how to survive, however, I don't know what is the purpose of their scales? It serves no use in defense I think. Maybe they fall off when being grabed by a predator (me). I find their scales very intriguing.

wayne · Post by **wayne** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 4:20 pm

Napthalene sorts 'em out

BingoTheClowno · Post by **BingoTheClowno** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 4:35 pm

You have many of them? Can you take a picture?

wayne · Post by **wayne** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 4:52 pm

They love eating nice clothes as they hang in the wardrobe.

Look the same as your variety - shy buggers, though - if i see one i'll try and shoot it for ya

Post by **garyb** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 8:14 pm

one of the most common creatures on earth, but interesting still.....

Zer · Post by **Zer** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 12:55 pm

tea tree oil may help.

Post by **garyb** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 10:12 pm

i bet they come from DARPA!

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article ... 26,00.html