Termite-Nest Silverfish vs Canary Islands Cave Silverfish

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Termite-Nest Silverfish Canary Islands Cave Silverfish
Scientific Name Atelura formicaria Coletinia majorensis
Order Zygentoma Zygentoma
Family Nicoletiidae Nicoletiidae
Size 4-6 mm 6-10 mm
Habitat Woodlands Caves
Diet Detritivores Fungus Feeders
Regions Europe Spain
Conservation Least Concern Vulnerable

Termite-Nest Silverfish

A small, blind, unpigmented silverfish that lives exclusively inside ant nests. It has evolved chemical mimicry to avoid detection and is tolerated by its ant hosts.

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Did You Know?

This silverfish steals food directly from the mouths of ants by mimicking the chemical signals ants use to request food sharing.

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.