2019 December  17

 

   Jeremy Tatum writes from his Saanich apartment:  There’s not much to photograph here in these dull days other than a few firebrats.  The first one below is the “usual” one, Thermobia domestica.  I think its epiproct (the middle of the three caudal appendages) must be damaged  – it is usally much longer than that. The second one is the less common Ctenolepisma longicaudata.  They are in the non-insect hexapod Order Thysanura, known as three-bronged bristletails.  This Order includes the Silverfish Lepisma saccharina, which I have never seen in Victoria.  Unlike the firebrats, which like warm areas, the genuine Silverfish prefers cool places.  Perhaps some viewer will be able to find and photograph one for us.

 

   Apart from the obvious differences in colour and pattern of the two species below, they are different shapes: T. domestica has quite a short abdomen compared with its thorax;  the abdomen of C. longicaudata (“long-tailed”) is indeed long.

 

Thermobia domestica (Thysanura: Lepismatidae)  Jeremy Tatum

 

Ctenolepisma longicaudata (Thysanura: Lepismatidae)  Jeremy Tatum