Lepismatidae
Lepismatidae | |
---|---|
Silverfish | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Subclass: | Apterygota |
Order: | Zygentoma |
Family: | Lepismatidae |
Genera include | |
Acrotelsa |
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
- ↑ Eric Tentarelli (2012). A Guide to Insects. Blackwell. p. 128.
- ↑ "Lepismatidae". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
- ↑ "Lepismatidae". Animal Diversity. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
- McGavin, George C. Insects and Spiders 2004
- Fauna Europaea
- Nomina Insecta Nearctica