Silverfish (Lepisma saccharina) nibbling on food dropping. These primitive insects belong to a group of insects called the bristletails and are household pests that can damage books, fabrics, and contaminate food. Silverfish get their name from their silvery scales and the way their bodies move like fish. The bristle-like appendages located at the end of their abdomens are called filaments and are organs of touch. Adults can reach a length of 2.5 cm and are found in most parts of the world.