Cultural-heritage-pest
Guides
Ctenolepisma longicaudatum
gray silverfish, long-tailed silverfish, paper silverfish
Ctenolepisma longicaudatum is a synanthropic silverfish species first described from South Africa in 1905, now distributed worldwide in human dwellings. It has become a significant indoor pest in Europe since the early 2000s, particularly in newly constructed buildings with stable climates. The species damages cellulose-based materials including books, documents, and textiles, and can survive extended periods without food.
Falsogastrallus
Falsogastrallus is a genus of small anobiid beetles in the family Ptinidae, established by Pic in 1914. The genus contains at least three described species, with F. sauteri documented as a significant pest of books and library materials in Taiwan. Adults are minute (1.5–3.5 mm), reddish brown to dark brown, with dense grayish pubescence. Larvae are C-shaped borers that tunnel through book hardcovers, particularly cardboard edges, and construct frass walls for pupation.
Gastrallus
Gastrallus is a genus of beetles in the family Ptinidae containing nearly 100 described species. The genus has a nearly worldwide distribution, with the Palearctic realm harboring the greatest diversity. Several species are significant pests of cultural heritage materials, particularly in library and archive environments.