Mountain Bristletail vs Gershner's Jumping Bristletail

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Mountain Bristletail Gershner's Jumping Bristletail
Scientific Name Trigoniophthalmus alternatus Pedetontus gershneri
Order Archaeognatha Archaeognatha
Family Machilidae Machilidae
Size 10-15 mm 8-10 mm
Habitat Forests Woodlands
Diet Detritivores Detritivores
Regions Central Europe United States
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Mountain Bristletail

A large bristletail found in forests and rocky habitats across central Europe. It has distinctive triangular compound eyes that meet on top of its head.

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Did You Know?

Its genus name refers to its triangular eyes, a key identifying feature.

Gershner's Jumping Bristletail

A North American jumping bristletail found in leaf litter and under bark. It has a distinctly humped thorax and long tail filaments.

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Did You Know?

Like all Archaeognatha, it molts throughout its entire adult life.