Jumping bristletail

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This editable Main Article is under development and subject to a disclaimer.

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Jumping bristletails

Scientific classification
| Kingdom:  | Animalia

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Phylum:  | Arthropoda

Subphylum:  | Hexapoda

Class:  | Insecta

Subclass:  | Archaeognatha

Order:  | Archaeognatha
Börner, 1904
Families

* Machilidae
* Meinertellidae

Jumping bristletails (Order Archaeognatha) were once classified with true bristletails, as they have a characteristic 3 long filament-like tails.

## Contents

* 1 Identification
* 2 Life Cycle
* 3 Habitat
* 4 Taxonomy
* 4.1 Number of species
* 4.2 Subdivisions

## Identification[edit]

Jumping bristletails are wingless, medium-sized insect measuring around 15mm in length, excluding the tails and antennae. They are generally a brownish color. They have compound eyes which are so large they occupy most of the head. They also have styli, movable fingerlike projections, on their abdomen.

## Life Cycle[edit]

Metamorphosis is simple. Nymphs resemble adults. Unlike other insects, however, jumping bristletails will continue to molt occasionally even after they are sexually mature.

## Habitat[edit]

Jumping bristletails live under rubble, loosely piles stones, leaf litter or bark in grassy or wooded areas, and in rocky cliffs next to the sea.

## Taxonomy[edit]

Jumping bristletails were once considered part of the now defunct order Thysanura. Later, they were given their own order, Microcoryphia, which has since been supplanted by the current name, Archeaognatha.

### Number of species[edit]

There are 25 species found in North America, and 350 worldwide.

### Subdivisions[edit]

There are two families in this order, distinguished by differences in scales at the base of the antennae, and the number of pouches, or vesicles, beneath each abdominal segment.