Lepismatidae

Lepismatidae
Silverfish
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Subclass: Apterygota
Order: Zygentoma
Family: Lepismatidae
Genera include

Acrotelsa
Allacrotelsa
Ctenolepisma
Lepisma
Leucolepisma
Mirolepisma
Neoasterolepisma
Prolepismina
Stylifera
Thermobia
Tricholepisma

Lepismatidae is a family of primitive wingless insects with about 190 described species. This family contains the two most familiar apterygotes, the silverfish (Lepisma saccharina) and the firebrat (Thermobia domestica). It is one of three families in the order Zygentoma.

Lepismatids are elongated, flattened insects, the majority of which are scavengers. The abdomen is usually clothed in tiny scales and terminates with 3 "tails" of roughly equal length. The compound eyes are small and well separated.

They typically live in warm, damp environments, including indoors. They avoid light.[1]

Their genera include the following:[2][3]

  • Acrotelsa
  • Allacrotelsa
  • Anallacrotelsa
  • Ctenolepisma
  • Heterolepisma
  • Isolepisma
  • Lepisma
  • Leucolepisma
  • Mirolepisma
  • Neoasterolepisma
  • Prolepisma
  • Stylifera
  • Thermobia
  • Tricholepisma

References

  1. ↑ Eric Tentarelli (2012). A Guide to Insects. Blackwell. p. 128.
  2. ↑ "Lepismatidae". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  3. ↑ "Lepismatidae". Animal Diversity. Retrieved 11 August 2018.


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