Lepismatidae

Lepismatidae
Temporal range: Aptian–Recent
Silverfish
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Zygentoma
Family: Lepismatidae
Latreille, 1802
Subfamilies[1]

Lepismatidae is a family of primitive wingless insects with about 190 described species. This family contains the two most familiar members of the order Zygentoma: the silverfish (Lepisma saccharinum) and the firebrat (Thermobia domestica). It is one of five 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 three "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.[2]

  1. ^ BioLib.cz: family Lepismatidae Latreille, 1802 (retrieved February 2024)
  2. ^ Eric Tentarelli (2012). A Guide to Insects. Blackwell. p. 128.