Thermobia domestica

SPECIES: Thermobia domestica

COMMON NAME: Firebrat

SIZE: slightly larger than Lepisma saccharina, with a body of 1-1.6 cm in length.

LIFECYCLE: the larvae development takes place in about a year and the adult has a life span of one or more years.

FEATURES: tends towards photophobia, and very similar to the better-known silverfish (Lepisma saccharina). Long, flattened body. The tegument has a spotted appearance due to its brown scales. Like all Thysanura it is primitively apterous. Compared to the silverfish, firebrat antennae and cerci are markedly longer: the antennae are about twice the length of the rest of the body, and the cerci about the same length as the body. Populations of T. domestica never reach considerable numbers as they consist of small communities of a few individuals

HABITAT: prefers warm and moist indoor environments and can be found in homes or, more frequently, in bakeries, generally near any heat sources such as ovens.

DIET: cellulose present in different materials like cardboard etc.

DAMAGE: in most cases, they do not cause damage.

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