Petridiobius arcticus
This record describes Petridiobius arcticus (species). Recorded family: Machilidae. Recorded order: Microcoryphia.
Identification and Appearance
Wikipedia reference for Petridiobius arcticus: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petridiobius_arcticus.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Microcoryphia (Bristletails)
- Family
- Machilidae (Jumping Bristletails)
- Subfamily
- Petrobiinae
- Genus
- Petridiobius
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
nw. NA (AK-BC)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Petridiobius arcticus (Folsom 1902)
About Bristletails: the wider group
Order-level background for Microcoryphia, the group containing Petridiobius arcticus. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Microcoryphia (jumping bristletails) includes ~500 described species. These are among the most primitive living insects - they are wingless, have an arched body, and can jump up to 30cm using their tail-like appendage.
Ecological role of the group
Bristletails feed on algae, lichens, and decaying plant material on rock surfaces and in leaf litter. They are primarily nocturnal and are preyed upon by spiders and ground beetles.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Jumping bristletails have no economic impact. They are valuable to entomologists as living fossils - representing the most ancestral body plan of any living insect group, dating back ~390 million years.
Recorded sources for this group: Entomological research, insect paleontology. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Petridiobius arcticus (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Charley Eiseman; Additional contributions by v belov