Thysanura is an order of small active insects that includes the familiar silverfish Lepisma saccharina and the firebrat. The order includes about 370 species worldwide, in four families. The insects of the order may be called bristletails, from their three long caudal filaments. The families Machilidae and Meinertellidae of the jumping bristletails were once included with Thysanura, but are now in the order Archaeognatha (= "Microcoryphia").

Silverfish are so called due to the silvery glitter of the scales covering their bodies. Their movement is "fish-like" and makes it look as if they're swimming. They are less than half an inch (1 cm) long and found in damp corners or amongst books and paper in houses. Although accredited with destroying paper and linen, they probably feed only on farinaceous (floury) or sugary substances. Silverfish can sometimes be found in bathtubs or sinks at night, as they have difficulty moving on smooth surfaces and so become trapped. Wild species often are found in habitats such as caves, and some are commensals living in association with ant colonies.

There are no current species formally considered to be at conservation risk, though several are troglobites limited to one or a few caves or cave systems, and these species run an exceptionally high risk of extinction.

External links

• Virginia Extension Service Article

*Harvard University Fact Sheet on silverfish and firebrats

Sources

• Charles A. Triplehorn and Norman F. Johnson, Borror and DeLong's Introduction to the Study of Insects, 7th edition (Thomas Brooks/Cole, 2005), pp. 177-180
• Firefly Encyclopedia of Insects and Spiders, edited by Christopher O'Toole, ISBN 1-55297-612-2, 2002

Insects | Apterygota

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