|
Order Zygentoma - Silverfish
Classification Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Zygentoma (Silverfish)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes Apterata [and formerly Thysanura, in whole or in part - see Remarks section below] Numbers 3 families containing 14 genera and 20 species in North America ( nearctica.com)
about 400 species worldwide Size length to 15 mm; common species usually 8-10 mm Identification wingless; body flattened, silvery or gray or brownish with or without markings; tip of abdomen with 1 long medial filament and 2 lateral cerci often as long as the medial one, and projecting at right-angles to the body; long thread-like antennae with many segments; eyes small (or absent) and do not touch; mandibles articulate at two points; can run quickly but cannot jump Range Cosmopolitan representatives include the Common Silverfish (Lepisma saccharina) and the Firebrat (Thermobia domestica); other members of the family Lepismatidae occur throughout much of North America.
A second family, Lepidotrichidae, is represented by a single species, the Forest Silverfish (Tricholepidion gertschi), which lives in carpenter ant nests in forests of northern California and perhaps Oregon.
A third family, known as Subterranean or Naked Silverfish (Nicoletiidae), occurs in Texas and the southeastern states; members are blind, often pure white, and live underground, in caves, under rocks, or in termite nests. Habitat often found indoors in damp environments; the Common Silverfish is frequently seen in bathrooms and kitchens, whereas the Firebrat is usually found in basements around furnaces and in insulation around hot water and heating pipes; these and other species also occur outdoors under bark, in leaf litter, caves, ant nests, deserts, etc. Season all year indoors; they are active at night, hide during the day, and avoid direct light Food omnivorous: starchy foods, cereals, moist wheat flour, glue on book bindings and wallpaper, starch in clothing made of cotton or rayon fabric; outdoor individuals eat lichens Life Cycle hatch from eggs, young look like adults, develop slowly, live several years Remarks The name Thysanura (previously spelled Thysanoura, and originally Thysanoures in French) has been used at various times to refer to various groups of organisms. It originally included springtails, diplurans, bristletails, and silverfish, but has subsequently been used to refer to only 3, 2, or 1 of these groups. There are other accepted names for each of these groups, so in order to avoid confusion over what is meant by "Thysanura", many recent authors have chosen to discontinue its use.
(See Thysanura & Thysanoura, N. Kluge, 2000, St. Petersburg State U., Russia) See Also may be confused with Bristletails (order Microcoryphia), which have large eyes that meet in the middle, a cylindrical body, an arched thorax, mandibles that articulate at only one point, are not normally found indoors, and have the ability to jump Internet References adult images of Common Silverfish ( Lepisma saccharina) and Firebrat ( Thermobia domestica) plus other info in French (Insects of Quebec)
live adult image of Firebrat plus description and references (David Maddison, Tree of Life)
taxonomic position and history plus synonyms, authors, and dates (N. Kluge, St. Petersburg State U., Russia)
distribution of families in North America, plus other info (Insects of Cedar Creek, Minnesota)
family descriptions of the 3 North American families plus illustrations, and a photo of Lepisma saccharina (Alan Kazlev, palaeos.com)
classification plus common name and taxonomic references (G.B. Smith, Dept. of Environment and Heritage, Australia)
Firebrat image, description, distribution, etc. (Matthew Bowser, U. of Alaska at Fairbanks)
description, habits, and control of silverfish and firebrats (Barb Ogg, U. of Nebraska) |
|
|
|
