Tropical Silverfish vs Forest Bristletail

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Tropical Silverfish Forest Bristletail
Scientific Name Nicoletia phytophila Machilis hrabei
Order Zygentoma Archaeognatha
Family Nicoletiidae Machilidae
Size 8-12 mm 8-12 mm
Habitat Caves Forests
Diet Detritivores Detritivores
Regions Central America, Caribbean Central Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Tropical Silverfish

A soil-dwelling silverfish found in tropical regions and occasionally in caves. It has a slender white body with very long cerci.

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Did You Know?

It has been recorded from caves in Belize despite being primarily a soil species.

Forest Bristletail

A central European bristletail inhabiting forest leaf litter and mossy rocks. It is one of many Machilis species found in Europe.

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Did You Know?

The genus Machilis was one of the first bristletail genera ever described.