Trigoniophthalmus alternatus
(Silvestri, 1904)
Cave Bristletail
Trigoniophthalmus alternatus is a of jumping bristletail, a primitive wingless insect in the order . It is commonly known as the Cave due to its association with subterranean and dark, moist . The species has a broad distribution across Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America. It was originally described as Machilis alternatus by Silvestri in 1904 before being transferred to the Trigoniophthalmus.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Trigoniophthalmus alternatus: /trɪˌɡoʊniˈɒfθəlməs ˌɔːltɜːrˈneɪtəs/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Habitat
Associated with cave environments and dark, moist microhabitats based on its and -level ; specific microhabitat preferences for this are not documented in available sources.
Distribution
Europe; Northern Asia (excluding China); North America. Specific country records include Belgium.
More Details
Taxonomic History
Originally described as Machilis alternatus by Silvestri in 1904; later transferred to Trigoniophthalmus. The genus name refers to the triangular arrangement of the characteristic of this group.
Observation Data
As of source date, iNaturalist records 1,771 observations for this , suggesting it is relatively well-documented among bristletails.