Silverfish in Ant Nests

Silverfish (Order Thysanura) are generally silver-dusted brown or gray insects with a tapering body resembling a sideways carrot with legs. They are known for their habit of infesting houses and eating wallpaper or bookbinding glue.

What a surprise to find silverfish in an ant nest.

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The silverfish is the white insect in the center of the photo. As you can see, it is in the tunnel with the ants.

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My best guess is that they are in the family Nicoletiidae, possibly in the genus Grassiella. If you know more, I’d love to hear about it.

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A few silverfish are beauticians of the ant world. They approach the ants to groom and clean their outer surface.  The silverfish probably also gets a share of the ants’ meal as payment.

These were found under rocks with native fire ants, Solenopsis sp., which is one reason the photos aren’t closer.

While I was taking photos of the silverfish, I also found a few beetles. More on that tomorrow.