Species Ctenolepisma lineata - Four-lined Silverfish

Ctenolepisma quadriseriata

About 15 mm long.

The abdomen is often marked with 4 dark brown lines. Generally similar to the closely related Silverfish but can be distinguished by being rather stouter and less shiny with all appendages (antennae and 3 "tails") noticeably longer. The young are light brown, and are often tinged with pink until the fourth molt, which occurs a month or so after hatching.

Ctenolepisma lineata occurs in the eastern United States as far south as Georgia and Arkansas and also in California.

Ctenolepisma lineata can be found throughout the house and in the basement, in wall voids, and in the attic, where it is often seen in large numbers, particularly in houses with roofs of wooden shingles. It occurs in the mulch of flower beds around the foundation, and also in the garage, even if it is not attached to the house (Zeigler, 1955). The subspecies Ctenolepisma lineata pilifera (Lucas) frequently enters homes in rural areas of northern California (Smith, 1970).