Pholous comments on What is this insect

submitted 5 months ago by urandom@lemmy.world to c/whatisthisthing@lemmy.world

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It’s about 2-3mm in length. Central European location.

[–] Pholous@piefed.social 25 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (7 children)

This is NOT a regular silverfish but a longtailed one or paperfish (Papierfischchen when you live in Germany)

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ctenolepisma_longicaudatum

They are not as useful as silverfish but not dangerous - except for your books and paperwork. We've also have them in our flat. They like it dry and feed on paper.

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[–] ryannathans@aussie.zone 12 points 5 months ago (6 children)

Silverfish have a use?

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[–] aldhissla@piefed.world 16 points 5 months ago (2 children)

They eat mold afaik. So if you see them, you know there's a source of humidity/mold you ought to check out.

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[–] ryannathans@aussie.zone 6 points 5 months ago

Don't they also eat all your paper and organic fabrics?

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[–] Pholous@piefed.social 4 points 5 months ago

Exactly. Also silverfish eat house dust mites.

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[–] jello@programming.dev 3 points 5 months ago (1 child)

They eat bugs and stuff. Not spiders though, that's a myth (unless they're already dead maybe).

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[–] NullTheWolf@pawb.social 2 points 5 months ago

Might be thinking of house centipedes which do eat spiders and are also commonly called silverfish, at least around where I'm from anyway.