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Order Microcoryphia - Bristletails
Classification Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Microcoryphia (Bristletails)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes Archaeognatha
The name Microcoryphia was proposed by Verhoeff on April 22nd, 1904. The name Archaeognatha was proposed by Borner on May 3rd, 1904. Since the oldest valid name is the accepted one, Borner lost out to Verhoeff by 11 days.
- also see Remarks section below Explanation of Names MICROCORYPHIA: from the Greek "mikros" (small) + "koryphe" (head); refers to the small head of these creatures, relative to body size
ARCHAEOGNATHA: from the Greek "archaios" (ancient) + "gnathos" (jaw); refers to the primitive condition of the jaw being attached to the head at a single point [the jaws of other insects have two attachment points] Numbers 2 families containing 12 genera and 24 species in North America ( nearctica.com)
about 350 species worldwide Identification wingless; body cylindrical, brownish or yellowish with darker mottling or irregular pattern; thorax arched dorsally; tip of abdomen with 1 long medial filament and 2 shorter lateral cerci; long thread-like antennae with many segments; eyes large and meet in middle; mandibles articulate at one point only; short lateral styli (rudimentary appendages) on abdominal segments 2-9; able to jump up to 10 cm by snapping abdomen against ground Range most of North America and the world Habitat outdoor grassy or wooded environments: under bark, leaf litter, rock crevices, or under stones; not normally found in homes, does not breed indoors, and not considered a pest Food algae, lichen, moss, decaying vegetation; usually feed at night Life Cycle simple development (egg, nymph, adult)
Sexual maturity is reached after at least eight juvenile instars spanning up to two years. Molting continues periodically even after adulthood. The sexes are separate, but copulation does not occur. Males produce a packet of sperm (spermatophore) and leave it on the ground to be picked up by a female. Females cannot store sperm (they lack a spermatheca), and evidently acquire a new spermatophore before each bout of egglaying. Eggs are laid singly or in small groups (less than 30). Some species have elaborate courtship rituals to insure that females are able to locate a spermatophore.
[text by John Meyer, North Carolina State U.] 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, St. Petersburg State U., Russia) See Also Silverfish (order Zygentoma) are similar but have compound eyes that are small or absent and do not touch, their body is flattened, their mandibles articulate at two points, they are often found in homes, and are able to run quickly but cannot jump. Internet References good overview, including illustrations, classification, biology, distribution, description, common name reference (John Meyer, North Carolina State U.)
live adult images plus classification, food, characteristics, many references and links to more info (David Maddison, Tree of Life)
live adult image and point-form listing of characteristics, plus synonym [Archaeognatha] (F.W. Ravlin, Virginia Tech State U.)
description of 4 species; PDF doc in northeastern United States and southeastern Canada (Pedro Wygodzinsky and Kathleen Schmidt, 1980, American Museum of Natural History)
classification, description, distribution, presence in Alaska, references and links to more info (U. of Alaska at Fairbanks)
taxonomic position and history plus synonyms, authors, and dates (N. Kluge, St. Petersburg State U., Russia) |
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