Lepismatidae

Taxobox
name = Lepismatidae


image_width = 200px
image_caption = Silverfish
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
subclassis = Apterygota
ordo = Thysanura
familia = Lepismatidae
subdivision_ranks = Genera include
subdivision ="Acrotelsa"
"Allacrotelsa"
"Ctenolepisma"
"Lepisma"
"Leucolepisma"
"Mirolepisma"
"Neoasterolepisma"
"Prolepismina"
"Stylifera"
"Thermobia"
"Tricholepisma"

Lepismatidae is a family of primitive wingless insects belonging to the order Thysanura with about 190 described species. This family contains the two most familiar apterygotes, the silverfish ("Lepisma saccharina") and the firebrat ("Thermobia domestica").

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.

References

*McGavin, George C. "Insects and Spiders" 2004
* [http://www.faunaeur.org/full_results.php?id=14053 Fauna Europaea]
* [http://www.nearctica.com/nomina/oddbugs/thysanur.htm Nomina Insecta Nearctica]