How do silverfish reproduce without direct copulation?

Unlike many other insects that engage in direct copulation, silverfish reproduce through an indirect method involving courtship movements. During this process, the male silverfish deposits a sperm packet, known as a spermatophore, which the female then collects and places into her vagina.12

This indirect transfer is a characteristic feature of primitive terrestrial arthropods, which utilize spermatophores to protect delicate sperm from drying out in terrestrial environments. In the order Zygentoma, to which silverfish belong, the male possesses an aedeagus that is used specifically to deposit these sperm drops rather than as a copulatory organ for direct transmission. Because the contents of the female’s sperm receptacle are lost with each molt, this deposition and pickup process must be repeated during each adult stage to ensure successful reproduction.32