Other Common Names
Footspinners (common names variously spelled as two words or with a hyphen)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
formerly named Embioptera
Explanation of Names
from the Greek "embios" (in life; lively) - a reference to their ability to run rapidly, often backwards
Numbers
11 species in 6 genera in 3 families in North America (
nearctica.com)
Identification
slender, usually brownish insects that may have wings (males) or be wingless (some males and all females); body of male flattened; body of female and immature more cylindrical; tarsi 3-segmented; basal segment of front tarsus greatly enlarged for producing silk from hollow hairs issuing on the basal and middle segments; cerci 2-segmented (but left cercus of some males 1-segmented)
Range
southern United States
primarily a tropical group
Habitat
silk galleries are spun under stones and bark, in debris, cracks in soil or bark, among grass roots, lichens, mosses, and epiphytic plants
winged males of some species are attracted to artificial light
Season
more numerous during the rainy season
Food
dead plant material plus lichens and mosses found around their galleries
Life Cycle
incomplete metamorphosis: egg, nymph, adult; one generation per year
Remarks
rapid runners; often run backwards
live in colonies (in galleries of spun silk) and exhibit limited maternal care for eggs and young
Internet References
Tree of Life--live adult images (by David Maddison and Alex Wild) plus classification, references, links, and other info
live adult male image [species and location not stated] plus general overview (E.R. Day, Virginia Tech U.)
live adult image [species and location not stated] plus common names reference and other info (Steve Marshall, U. of Guelph, Ontario)
links to more information plus common names reference (North Carolina State U.)
