Texas Cave Silverfish vs Termite-Nest Silverfish
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Texas Cave Silverfish | Termite-Nest Silverfish |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Texoreddellia texensis | Atelura formicaria |
| Order | Zygentoma | Zygentoma |
| Family | Nicoletiidae | Nicoletiidae |
| Size | 8-15 mm | 4-6 mm |
| Habitat | Caves | Woodlands |
| Diet | Fungus Feeders | Detritivores |
| Regions | United States | Europe |
| Conservation | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
Texas Cave Silverfish
A troglobitic silverfish endemic to limestone caves in central Texas. It has no eyes and a pale, elongated body.
Did You Know?
The genus Texoreddellia includes several species spread across 160,000 square kilometers of Texas caves.
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.