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What the sources say

SilverfishLepisma saccharinum

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Silverfish profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 46 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

Phillips & Gillett-Kaufman 2018

Phillips & Gillett-Kaufman (2018). Silverfish Lepisma saccharina Linnaeus (Insecta: Zygentoma: Lepismatidae). EDIS.

The page saysA wingless, silver-scaled insect that keeps molting as an adult and can go up to a year without food.
The source saysSilverfish are wingless ... Adults can continue to molt throughout their life ... Silverfish are capable of going for long periods of time, up to an entire year, without foodNote: tagline; silver-scaled: 'silver or pearl-gray in color with a body covered in tiny glistening scales' is claimed below
The page saysNot Evaluated
The source saysLepisma saccharina is a pest in urban settingsNote: stats.conservationStatus. The prefetch found no Red List assessment DOI and GBIF holds no category for Lepisma saccharinum; ADW pages were unreadable. No IUCN reference is cited; the quote only identifies the species.
The page saysStarchy materials such as paper and wood, and the glue in bindings and wallpaper
The source saysSilverfish have a preference for starchy materials such as paper and wood as their primary food source ... They have been reported to eat the glue used to hold up wallpaper, curtains, carpets, book bindingsNote: stats.diet
The page saysKeeps molting as an adult and can go up to a year without food
The source saysAdults can continue to molt throughout their life ... Silverfish are capable of going for long periods of time, up to an entire year, without foodNote: stats.superpower
The page saysSilverfish can keep molting throughout their lives, even as adults.
The source saysAdults can continue to molt throughout their lifeNote: Reviewer: NC State's 'Unlike other insects' line was a silverfish-and-firebrat group statement, cut; EDIS species scope used.
The page saysYoung silverfish molt six to seven times until they reach adulthood.
The source saysImmature silverfish molt six to seven times until they reach their adult, sexually mature stage.
The page saysSilverfish have been recorded molting 25 to 66 times in a lifespan.
The source sayshas been recorded molting between 25 to 66 times in a lifespan
The page saysIn optimal conditions, a silverfish can keep molting over a lifespan of up to four years.
The source saysIf conditions for silverfish are optimal, they may typically continue to molt during a lifespan of up to four yearsNote: NC State's group page says 'Adults may live two to eight years'; not used.
The page saysGetting from egg to adult typically takes one year.
The source saysThe time of maturation from egg to an adult is typically one year
The page saysis silver or pearl-gray, with a body covered in tiny glistening scales.
The source saysSilverfish are silver or pearl-gray in color with a body covered in tiny glistening scales
The page saysThe body tapers to the back end, where three long appendages with bristles appear.
The source saysThe body is wide at the head and tapers down to the posterior end where three long appendages with bristles appear.
The page saysit can regenerate it in two to four weeks.
The source sayssilverfish can regenerate terminal filaments and antennae in two to four weeks
The page saysCourtship starts with the male and female tapping each other with their antennae.
The source saysThe mating behavior of the silverfish begins with the male and female tapping each other with their antennae
The page saysThe male then spins a Y-shaped silk structure and leaves a spermatophore, a packet of sperm, near it.
The source saysThe male then spins a Y-shaped silk structure and deposits its spermatophore, which contain male gametes, close to the silk structure
The page saysThe female finds the silk and takes the packet up.
The source saysThe female silverfish detects the silk spun by the male, and takes up the nearby spermatophore into her ovipositor
The page saysEggs are laid in clutches of seven to twelve.
The source saysEggs are laid in clutches of seven to twelve eggs
The page saysSilverfish are capable of going for long periods of time, up to an entire year, without food.
The source saysSilverfish are capable of going for long periods of time, up to an entire year, without food
The page saysSilverfish prefer starchy materials such as paper and wood.
The source saysSilverfish have a preference for starchy materials such as paper and wood as their primary food source
The page saysThey like glazed paper best, which is paper coated with a starch-rich layer.
The source saysglazed paper, which is paper that has been coated with a starch-rich layer
The page saysThey are reported to eat the glue behind wallpaper and in book bindings.
The source saysThey have been reported to eat the glue used to hold up wallpaper, curtains, carpets, book bindings
The page saysSilverfish are nocturnal and rarely seen in the daytime unless disturbed.
The source saysSilverfish are nocturnal and only rarely seen in the daytime unless disturbed from their resting places
The page saysWhen they are, they dart away quickly.
The source saysWhen discovered or disturbed, silverfish will dart away quickly to conceal themselves
The page saysThey are usually found indoors in concealed spots such as bathrooms, attics and basements.
The source saysSilverfish are usually found indoors in concealed, temperature-controlled areas such as bathrooms, attics, and basements
The page saysThe species is found worldwide.
The source saysLepisma saccharina is found worldwide
The page saysNo. It is a wingless insect.
The source saysSilverfish are wingless ... Silverfish are in one of the simplest, least evolved orders of insects, the ZygentomaNote: FAQ 1; 'insect' from the order sentence.
The page saysThe name comes from its glistening scales, which people often compare to fish scales.
The source saysThe scales are often described as fish-like. This is how it came by the common name silverfish.
The page saysMany species in the order Zygentoma are called silverfish, but the Entomological Society of America gives the official common name to only one of them, Lepisma saccharina.
The source saysSilverfish is a common name used to refer to many species in the order Zygentoma. The Entomological Society of America designates the term silverfish as the official common name to only one species, however: Lepisma saccharina Linnaeus.
The page saysAt around 32 degrees Celsius, eggs can hatch in under 20 days.
The source saysEggs can hatch in under 20 days if the temperature is around 32°CNote: FAQ 2
The page saysAt around 22 degrees Celsius, hatching can take up to 40 days.
The source saysthe time until hatch may take up to 40 days if temperatures are around 22°C
The page saysMuseums keep their climate under strict control, and silverfish are often serious pests in such buildings.
The source saysSilverfish are often serious pests in commercial buildings with strict climate controls, such as museums
The page saysLibraries and museums are also full of paper books and labels, which the insect eats.
The source saysIt is a voracious feeder on materials high in starches, glue, and cellulose such as paper. Lepisma saccharina is a common pest in libraries and museums where paper books and labels are abundant
The page sayskeeps molting as an adult
The source saysAdults can continue to molt throughout their lifeNote: vibe.reason, animal half
The page sayshas been recorded molting 25 to 66 times in a lifespan
The source sayshas been recorded molting between 25 to 66 times in a lifespanNote: vibe.reason, animal half

Source
02

Molero-Baltanás et al. 2024

Molero-Baltanás et al. (2024). Worldwide revision of synanthropic silverfish (Insecta: Zygentoma: Lepismatidae) combining morphological and molecular data. Journal of Insect Science.

The page saysBuildings worldwide, and in southern and central Europe also under stones, bark and leaf litter
The source saysthis species is a facultative synanthropic species that can be found both inside and outside houses in southern and central Europe. Free-living forms have been found in chestnut, pine or oak forests and Eucalyptus plantations as well as shrublands, from coastal areas to mountainous environments, under stones, rocks, bark of different trees, leaf litterNote: stats.habitat; 'worldwide' from silverfish-2018 'found worldwide', claimed in the body
The page saysAdults are usually 7 to 10 millimetres long and can reach 11 millimetres.
The source saysBody length up to 11 mm in adults, usually 7–10 mm.Note: Lepisma saccharinum, the species' own diagnosis. English Heritage: adult 10-15 mm (not used, wider range).
The page saysMost earlier works spell the name Lepisma saccharina; a recent naming change altered the ending.
The source saysAlthough most works cited the genus Lepisma and Ctenolepisma as feminine, recent nomenclatural changes have assigned them to neuter gender, resulting in corresponding changes to the endings of some species namesNote: The feminine spelling saccharina is the one EDIS 2018 uses ('Lepisma saccharina Linnaeus'); the revision uses saccharinum.
The page saysA recent revision says it is probably native to the Mediterranean region.
The source saysRobla et al. (2023) show a map with records of the natural habitats of this species in the Mediterranean region. This suggests that Lepisma saccharinum is native to this area.Note: 'probably' carries 'suggests'; 'recent' = the reference's 2024 year.
The page saysIn southern and central Europe it lives both inside and outside houses.
The source sayscan be found both inside and outside houses in southern and central Europe
The page saysOutdoors it has been found under stones, rocks, bark and leaf litter, and sometimes in ant nests.
The source saysunder stones, rocks, bark of different trees, leaf litter, and pine cones, and sometimes they are found living with ants (e.g., inside Aphaenogaster , Messor , Lasius , Tapinoma , and Tetramorium nests)
The page saysIn the rest of the world where it has been reported, it occurs as an obligate synanthropic species: there it has been recorded only in human buildings, not in the wild.
The source saysthis species is a facultative synanthropic species that can be found both inside and outside houses in southern and central Europe ... In the rest of the world where L. saccharinum has been reported, this species occurs as an obligate synanthropicNote: The gloss follows the paper's own contrast: facultative = found both inside and outside houses (Europe), so obligate = in human buildings only. 'only' is that contrast, not an added absolute.
The page saysNeither it nor any other Lepisma species has been found in natural habitats in America.
The source saysneither Lepisma saccharinum nor other Lepisma species have been found in natural habitats in America
The page saysA recent revision of household silverfish says that in most of the range of Lepisma saccharinum, the grey silverfish Ctenolepisma longicaudatum seems to be becoming more frequent.
The source saysin most parts of its geographical range, it seems that C. longicaudatum is becoming more frequentNote: FAQ 3. 'grey silverfish' for C. longicaudatum is English Heritage's usage ('Grey Silverfish ... Latin name Ctenolepisma longicaudata'); the revision calls it Ctenolepisma longicaudatum. 'Recent' = the reference's 2024 year.
The page saysSome papers use the name common silverfish for each of them. Because common names can mislead, the authors say to use the scientific name.
The source saysThe name “common silverfish” has been used for L. saccharinum in some papers ... some publications use the name “common silverfish” for C. longicaudatum ... Since common names could lead to misinterpretations, the scientific name should be used

Source
03

Pinniger

Pinniger. Pest Fact sheet No 8: Silverfish and grey silverfish. English Heritage.

The page saysOn paper, they scratch the surface and leave bare or translucent patches, and they can eventually eat holes through it.
The source saysSilverfish scratch the surface of paper and books leaving, bare or translucent patches. ... They will eventually eat through the paper leaving holes with irregular thinned edges.
The page saysAdults are frequently found in damp areas
The source saysAdult Lepisma silverfish are frequently found in damp areas
The page sayseggs are laid only in damp conditions.
The source saysThey will only lay eggs in damp conditions

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.