Paedembiidae

Definition

A family of webspinners (order Embioptera) comprising at least three genera and three described species. Members of this family, like all embiopterans, are characterized by silk-producing glands on the forelegs used to construct silk-lined galleries in which they live, feed, and reproduce.

Etymology

Example

Paedembiidae represents one of several families within the order Embioptera, distinguished from other webspinning families by genitalic and wing venation characters used in phylogenetic studies of embiopteran diversity.

Related Terms

• Embioptera
• webspinner
• embiid
• silk gland
• Arachnoptera

Usage Notes

A small, poorly known family within the webspinners; taxonomic boundaries and species diversity remain incompletely documented. Specialists distinguish Paedembiidae from related families such as Embiidae and Teratembiidae by male genitalia and wing morphology.