symphylan

symphylan

▪ arthropod class
also called  symphylid  

      any of a group of insects that are often included with the centipedes (Chilopoda) and millipedes (Diplopoda) in the superclass Myriapoda of the subphylum Labiata. The approximately 120 species resemble small centipedes with the largest being less than 10 mm (0.4 inch) long. The antennae are long and many-jointed. The soft, white body is divided into 14 segments, 12 of which bear pairs of hooklike legs. All of the legs on one side move simultaneously, alternating with those on the opposite side, thus producing a twisting, turning motion.

      Symphylans occur worldwide but chiefly in the tropics. Most live in and eat decaying plant matter, although some feed on dead insects and the tender parts of living plants. The so-called garden centipede (Scutigerella immaculata) of North America, Europe, and Hawaii damages beets, celery, lettuce, and other crops. Scolopendrella is common in North America.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • symphylan — sym·phy·lan …   English syllables

  • symphylan — lən adjective or noun Etymology: New Latin Symphyla + English an : symphilid …   Useful english dictionary

  • garden symphylan — noun : garden centipede …   Useful english dictionary

  • insect — insectival /in sek tuy veuhl/, adj. /in sekt/, n. 1. any animal of the class Insecta, comprising small, air breathing arthropods having the body divided into three parts (head, thorax, and abdomen), and having three pairs of legs and usually two… …   Universalium

  • Oscar Werner Tiegs — Ocsar Werner Tiegs Born 12 March 1897 Kangaroo Point, Brisbane, Australia …   Wikipedia

  • Zwergfüßer — Scutigerella immaculata Systematik Überstamm: Häutungstiere (Ecdysozoa) Stamm …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Symphyla — Taxobox name = Symphyla image width = 260px image caption = Scutigerella immaculata regnum = Animalia phylum = Arthropoda subphylum = Myriapoda classis = Symphyla classis authority = Ryder, 1880 subdivision ranks = Families subdivision =… …   Wikipedia

  • Myriapoda — Temporal range: Late Silurian–Recent …   Wikipedia

  • apterygote — /ap ter i goht , ap teuhr /, adj. belonging or pertaining to the Apterygota, a subclass of primitive wingless insects that undergo little or no metamorphosis. Also, apterygotous /ap ter i goh teuhs/. [ < NL Apterygota name of the subclass, equiv …   Universalium

  • arthropod — /ahr threuh pod /, n. 1. any invertebrate of the phylum Arthropoda, having a segmented body, jointed limbs, and usually a chitinous shell that undergoes moltings, including the insects, spiders and other arachnids, crustaceans, and myriapods. adj …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”