Embiidae

Definition

A family of webspinners (order Embioptera), the largest and most widespread family in the order, containing more than 20 genera and over 80 described species. Members are characterized by silk-producing glands on the foretarsi, used to construct silk galleries in leaf litter, bark crevices, or soil, within which they live gregariously and feed on decaying plant matter.

Etymology

From Embia, type genus of the family, + -idae (family suffix).

Example

The genus *Embia* (family Embiidae) includes species found across the Palearctic region, where colonies spin extensive silk tunnel systems under stones and in rock crevices.

Related Terms

• Embioptera
• webspinner
• Notoligotomidae
• Anisembiidae
• silk gland
• gallery

Usage Notes

Embiidae is the type family of order Embioptera and contains the majority of described webspinner diversity. Distinguished from the smaller families Notoligotomidae (Southern Hemisphere, few species) and Anisembiidae (Americas) by genitalic and wing venation characters. The family is cosmopolitan but most diverse in tropical and subtropical regions. When referring to the group, 'embiid' is the common adjectival/noun form for individual species.