|
File:
<thysanu.htm> [For educational purposes
only] Glossary <Principal Natural Enemy Groups > <Citations> <Home> |
|
THYSANURA <General Characteristics>;
<Adults> &
<Juveniles> [Latest Classification] This order includes the
silverfish and firebrats, distinguished by three long posterior
filaments. The name Thysanura
is from the Greek thysanos for "fringe" and oura
for "tail", that refers to the 3 caudal filaments. The common name also refers to the silvery glitter of scales covering their bodies.
Their movement resembles that of fish swimming in water. They are less than 1 cm. long, and
commonly occur in damp habitats or around books. The body is flattened
and sometimes elongated or oval in shape. Their antennae are flexible and
they have small compound eyes that are often absent. The
mandibles are short unspecialised. Many species also bear short appendages on their abdomen. The most distinctive feature is the
presence of three long, tail-like filaments that extend from The posterior of
the abdomen. These are formed from the abdominal cerci. Their habitat is in both moist or dry,
habitats both as free-living organisms or as nest inhabitants. The food includes paste,
paper, cereals, starch in clothes,
rayon fabrics and dried meats. They may also be found in bathrooms. They do not prefer smooth surfaces. Wild
species often are found in caves, and some species are commensals in
association with ant colonies, e.g., Trichatelura manni. The largest family is
Lepismatidae, which is widespread with more than 205 species, many of which
live in association with humans.
Silverfish have an interesting courtship. The male spins a silken
thread between the substrate and a vertical object. A spermatophore is then
deposited beneath this thread after which a female is enticed to walk under
the thread. When her cerci contact the silk thread, she picks up the
spermatophore with her genital opening.
Silverfish continue to molt throughout their life. There are several sexually mature instars,
unlike more advanced insects. They are relatively slow growing, and they may
live for four years or more. = = = = = = = References: Please refer to <biology.ref.htm>, [Additional references
may be found at: MELVYL
Library] Grimaldi, D.
and Engel, M.S. (2005). Evolution of the Insects. Cambridge University
Press. ISBN 0-521-82149-5. Hoell, H.V.,
Doyen, J.T. & Purcell, A.H. (1998). Introduction to Insect Biology and
Diversity, 2nd ed.. Oxford University Press. p. 320.. Hoell, H.V.,
Doyen, J.T. & Purcell, A.H. (1998). Introduction to Insect Biology and
Diversity, 2nd ed.. Oxford University Press. p. 343. Sturm, H.
2003. Zygentoma in Resh
VH, Cardé RT. (eds.) (2003) Encyclopaedia of Insects. Academic Press. pp.
1203–1205 Torgerson, R. D. Akre 1969. Reproductive
Morphology and Behavior of a Thysanuran, Trichatelura
manni, Associated with Army Ants, Annals of the Entomological Society of
America, 62, pp. 1367-1374 Triplehorn C. A. & Norman F. Johnson, Borror
and DeLong's Introduction to the Study of Insects, 7th edition (Thomas
Brooks/Cole, 2005), pp. 177–180 |