Nicoletiidae

Definition

A family of primitive, eyeless, unpigmented insects in the order Zygentoma (silverfish and allies). Nicoletiids are typically subterranean or troglobitic, inhabiting soil, leaf litter, caves, and occasionally the nests of social insects as inquilines. They are characterized by elongated antennae, three terminal abdominal appendages (cerci and median caudal filament), and generally soft, pale or translucent integument. The family represents one of several lineages of Zygentoma that have independently adapted to dark, humid microhabitats.

Etymology

From Nicoletia, the type genus, honoring Swiss entomologist Jean-François Nicolet (1797–1866), with the family suffix -idae.

Example

Allotrichotriura saevissima, a nicoletiid species, lives as a commensal inside fire ant (Solenopsis) nests, while the genus Coletinia includes larger, sometimes weakly pigmented species measuring 10–15 mm.

Related Terms

• Zygentoma
• Lepismatidae
• inquiline
• troglobite
• Apterygote
• cercus
• caudal filament
• myrmecophile

Usage Notes

Distinguished from the more familiar family Lepismatidae (common silverfish and firebrats) by their exclusively cryptic lifestyle, lack of eyes, and generally more delicate build. The family is sometimes grouped with other 'basal' Zygentoma families (Ateluridae, Lepidotrichidae) in discussions of apterygote phylogeny. Species identifications often require examination of abdominal chaetotaxy and genital morphology.