Jump On Them Before They Jump On You! : Jumping Bristletail Info
July 15th, 2009 Posted in Pantry & Linen Pests, Silverfish & Firebrats
-(Microcoryphia)
Jumping Bristletails belong to the same Superorder as Silverfish and Firebrat Insect (Thysanura) but belong to a different subdivision order (Archeognatha); whereas, the true order of Silverfish and Firebrats is Zygentoma. Older texts lump the two orders together, but current taxonomy separates them in this way.
For more details about Jumping Bristletails:
Identification
Adults reach a length of up to 20mm, and they have a wingless cylindrical body as opposed to the characteristic flattened and tapered construction of the order Thysanura. They are typically brown or yellowish with darker mottling or irregular patterning. The thorax is arched upward and allows the insect to jump up to 10cm by snapping the curved body against the ground.
The Bristletail, along with the Zygentomas, possesses the characteristic medial filament and lateral cerci that extend from the its abdomen along with similar segmented antennae branching from the head. As opposed to having the small, or absent, compound eyes of the Silverfish and Firebrats, Bristletails have two extremely large eyes that meet in the middle of the body. They also have a more primitive jaw structure, experiencing one point mandible articulation as opposed to two.
Bristletails have short appendages in addition to their legs that protrude from abdominal segments 2-9.
Habits and Development
They experience the same incomplete development (egg to nymph to adult) typical to Thysanuras and reach maturity after at least 8 juvenile instars lasting up to two years. They continue to molt throughout adulthood. Females lay eggs singly or in groups of up to 30 in similar locations to those chosen by the Silverfish and Firebrats.
Sharing some outdoor environmental characteristics with the Four Lined Silverfish (internal link), Bristletails live outside in grassy/wooded areas in leaf litter, under rocks, etc. They are rarely found inside and are therefore not considered household pests. Active nocturnally, their diet consists of algae, lichens, and mosses.
On the rare occasions when one might find a true Bristletail inside their home, the insect is most likely targeting the same starchy food sources typically sought out by the Silverfish and Firebrats. Find one in yours? Use environmentally-safe EcoSMART Home Pest Control to get rid of Bristletails, Silverfish and Firebrats.
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5 Comments | The First 1,000 to Comment (Starting 12/21/2009) Will Become EcoSMART Product Testers!
By shellie Meehan on Oct 25, 2009
Siver fish are creepy. They hide out in the cleanest of places. You never know when you are gonna find one around the house. I am happy to hear there is a EcoSmart pestiside that will ride me of these little boogers!! way to go Eco Smart!!!!
By Mari on Oct 28, 2009
I know Silverfish but this is the first I hear of “Jumping Bristletails”!!! Gross, are they in a specific region of the country? Seasonal? What are their jumping capabilities?!! I need to know! -Better yet, I just need to eliminate them!
By John Janovy Jr on Jan 7, 2011
Where, in the country, have these insects been collected? I’d like to find some for teaching and research purposes.
By EcoSMART Kait on Feb 7, 2011
Hi John,
They are found in all states in the United States except Hawaii and Alaska. They live in a wide range of habitats, though, and have been found in the Arctic as well as in deserts. Unfortunately, their habitat is not very specific. Best of luck!