Termite-Nest Silverfish vs Common Web Spinner
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Termite-Nest Silverfish | Common Web Spinner |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Atelura formicaria | Embia major |
| Order | Zygentoma | Embioptera |
| Family | Nicoletiidae | Embiidae |
| Size | 4-6 mm | 10.0-15.0 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Detritivores | Gall Makers |
| Regions | Europe | Europe, Africa |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Not Evaluated |
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.
Did You Know?
This silverfish steals food directly from the mouths of ants by mimicking the chemical signals ants use to request food sharing.
Common Web Spinner
A dark brown web spinner that constructs silk galleries on tree bark and under stones. Males are winged while females are always wingless.
Did You Know?
Web spinners produce silk from glands in their enlarged front feet, the only insects to spin silk with their tarsi.