Long-tailed Silverfish

Ctenolepisma longicaudatum

The Long-tailed Silverfish is a small, shiny insect that loves to hide in dark, damp places. It has long, wiggly tails and moves quickly, making it fun to spot in your home!

Hábitat: Urban areas

Aspecto

The Long-tailed Silverfish has a flattened, tear-drop shaped body covered in silvery-grey scales, giving it a metallic sheen. It has long antennae and three distinct, tail-like appendages that are longer than its body, distinguishing it from the common silverfish.

ReinoAnimaliaFiloArthropodaClaseInsectaOrdenZygentomaFamiliaLepismatidaeGéneroCtenolepisma

Long-tailed Silverfish

Categoría

Insectos

Rareza

Common

Peligro

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Snaps

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Datos interesantes

Long-tailed Silverfish never stop growing, molting up to 60 times in their lives!

Their ancestors lived with dinosaurs over 400 million years ago!

They are nocturnal and avoid light, preferring the quiet of night!

They use tiny bristly hairs on their bodies to feel their way in the dark!

Habilidades especiales

Long-tailed Silverfish can shed their scales easily when grabbed because of their loosely attached scales that helps them escape from predators.

Long-tailed Silverfish has special enzymes that helps them digest complex carbohydrates found in paper, glue, and fabrics.

Long-tailed Silverfish can molt throughout their entire adult life because of a unique ability that helps them repair damage and grow.

Medidas y detalles

Tamaño: 10-15 mm
Esperanza de vida: 730-2920 días
Cantidad de patas: 6

Dieta y alimentación

They are expert scavengers, munching on starches found in paper, glue, and fabrics.

Alimentos principales

paper
glue
books
starches
dead insects
cellulose fibers

Método de búsqueda

Foraging

Conexiones ecológicas

eaten by

Common House Centipede

Scutigera coleoptrata

Centipedes actively hunt silverfish in homes and damp areas.

eaten by

Long-bodied Cellar Spider

Pholcus phalangioides

Cellar spiders are known to catch and eat silverfish in their webs.

eats

Brewer's Yeast

Saccharomyces cerevisiae

They consume fungi and yeasts found on damp surfaces for nutrients.

Rasgos

Solitario

Los animales solitarios viven solos durante la mayor parte de su vida y solo interactúan con otros para aparearse o cuidar de sus crías.

Omnívoro

Este rasgo identifica organismos cuya dieta incluye tanto materia vegetal como animal.

Descomponedor

Describe a los organismos que descomponen la materia orgánica muerta, reciclando los nutrientes de vuelta al ecosistema.

Miniatura

Relativo a especies que son significativamente más pequeñas que lo típico o promedio de su tipo.

Velocista

Este rasgo identifica a los organismos que exhiben una rapidez excepcional en sus movimientos para cazar, escapar o desplazarse.

Adaptado a la ciudad

Esta característica de hábitat indica especies que pueden coexistir con los humanos en entornos urbanos y suburbanos, utilizando estructuras artificiales y espacios verdes.