| Ctenolepisma lineatum | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Zygentoma |
| Family: | Lepismatidae |
| Genus: | Ctenolepisma |
| Species: | C. lineatum |
| Binomial name | |
| Ctenolepisma lineatum (Fabricius, 1775) | |
| Synonyms | |
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Ctenolepisma lineatum is a species of insect of the order Zygentoma. It is similar to the closely related silverfish but can be distinguished by being rather stouter and less shiny with all the appendages (antennae and 3 "tails") being noticeably longer. The abdomen is often marked with dark brown lines and the species is sometimes called four-lined silverfish.
This species is native to southern Europe but is now found throughout most of the world, aside from polar and cooler temperate regions (e.g. the British Isles), as an accidental introduction. It is found both indoors and outdoors and can be a nuisance pest.
Recent studies on this species in Europe suggest that, due to speciation, there is enough geographical variation to justify splitting into several species, with one form already having been given specific status as Ctenolepisma almeriense from south-eastern Spain. [1]
Lepisma piliferaLucas, 1840, which was considered a synonym of C. lineatum, is now treated as a synonym of Thermobia aegyptiaca (Lucas, 1840). [2]
