lepisma saccharina

Lepisma saccharina
    n 1: silver-grey wingless insect found in houses feeding on book
         bindings and starched clothing [syn: {silverfish}, {Lepisma
         saccharina}]
    

Silverfish \Sil"ver*fish`\, n.
   1. (Zool.)
      (a) The tarpum.
      (b) A white variety of the goldfish.
          [1913 Webster]

   2. one of a variety of insects of the order {Thysanura},
      especially {Lepisma saccharina}, which may infest houses,
      and eats starched clothing and sized papers. See
      {Lepisma.}
      [PJC]
    

Lepisma \Le*pis"ma\ (l[-e]*p[i^]z"m[.a]), n. [NL., fr. Gr.
   le`pisma peel, fr. lepi`s -i`dos, a scale.] (Zool.)
   A genus of wingless thysanurous insects having an elongated
   flattened body, covered with shining scales and terminated by
   seven unequal bristles. A common species ({Lepisma
   saccharina}) is found in houses, and often injures books and
   furniture; it feeds on starch and eats sized paper and
   starched clothes. Called also {shiner}, {silverfish}, {silver
   witch}, {silver moth}, and {furniture bug}.
   [1913 Webster +PJC]