Silverfish
Thysanura
Where in the world do they live?
There are around 370 species from four different families in the order Thysanura. Their distribution is worldwide.
Biogeographic Regions:
nearctic (native); palearctic (native); oriental (native); ethiopian (native); neotropical (native); australian (native).
What kind of habitat do they need?
Silverfish live under bark, leaf litter, in caves and other underground dwellings, including mammal burrows. Some species are found in buildings associated with humans. Silverfish can exist under extreme environments. Some tolerate wet, cool regions, and others tolerate the low humidity and high temperatures of arid regions.
These animals are found in the following types of habitat:
temperate; tropical; terrestrial.
Terrestrial Biomes:
desert or dune; chaparral; forest; rainforest; scrub forest.
Wetlands:
How do they grow?
Molting occurs throughout the life of the insect. It takes up to two years for a silverfish to complete its development from juvenile to adult.
Special features of growth:
How long do they live?
Silverfish can live up to four years.
How do they behave?
Despite being wingless, silverfish are rapid runners.
Key behaviors:
What eats them and how do they avoid being eaten?
Known predators
How do they interact with us?
Silverfish that are outdoor species are useful decomposers of organic materials.
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It is a partnership of the University of Michigan School of Education, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology, and the Detroit Public Schools. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant DRL-0628151.
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