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Zygentoma

Common name:

Silver fish or fish moths

Distribution:

Every continent except Antarctica

Habitat:

Dark, moist habitats or in association with other insect nests

Diet:

Cereals, paper, starch in clothes (domestic), organic detritus (wild)

Number of species globally

550

Number of species in Hong Kong :

3

Morphology
(how to recognize them) :

-Wingless
-Long antennae
-Three long tail-like structures, all similar length
-Flat oval body
-Silvery glittery scales
-Fish like movement

Diagram

Did you know ?

Silverfish have a complicated courtship ritual. The male spins a silken thread and deposits a sperm packet beneath it. When a female walks under the thread and touches it, she picks up the sperm packet with her genital opening. Sperm is released into her reproductive organ and the empty sperm packet is ejected and eaten by her.

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