Canary Islands Cave Silverfish vs Red Cotton Bug

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Canary Islands Cave Silverfish Red Cotton Bug
Scientific Name Coletinia majorensis Dysdercus koenigii
Order Zygentoma Hemiptera
Family Nicoletiidae Pyrrhocoridae
Size 6-10 mm 12-18 mm
Habitat Caves Farmland
Diet Fungus Feeders Fungus Feeders
Regions Spain South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka)
Conservation Vulnerable Least Concern

Canary Islands Cave Silverfish

A cave-adapted silverfish from Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands. It lives in lava tubes and volcanic caves.

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Did You Know?

Males of this species have distinctive asymmetric antennae.

Red Cotton Bug

A bright red and black true bug that stains cotton lint by piercing developing cotton bolls. Adults and nymphs aggregate in large numbers on cotton plants, and their feeding introduces fungi that further damage the crop.

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Did You Know?

The red staining caused by this bug's feeding on cotton bolls reduces the market value of the cotton fiber by creating permanent yellow spots.