Subject: Crawfish-like beetle?
Location: Central Florida
April 24, 2013 1:01 pm
Hello! I stumbled across your website when searching for an identity to a bug I found in my home. It’s springtime (April) in Florida, but I’ve found evidence of the same bug’s molt a few months ago (around the time a termite swarm entered my home). From tail to antennae, it’s about 1.25”-1.5” long. I’m truly at a loss as to what kind of bug this could be…thank you kindly for your expert eyes!
Signature: A. Robinson
Dear A. Robinson,
We thought this looked like a Silverfish, but perhaps it is the angle of the photo, but we were not certain, so we checked with Eric Eaton first. Here is his reply: “Nope, still a silverfish, or firebrat. The scales are rubbed off, which makes ID more difficult. Eric.” Silverfish are common household pests that will eat a wide variety of organic substances in the home, including the glue used in wallpaper and book bindings.
Mr. Marlos,
Thank you for your response! Now that I know it’s most likely a silverfish, I feel a little silly asking for ID. I’ve only ever identified silverfish when they were alive, so perhaps that’s where my confusion originated. I suppose it’s a good sign that I’ve only found dead ones in my current home.
Thanks, again.
Amber