Scelembiidae

Definition

A family of webspinners (order Embioptera) comprising approximately 40 described species across 12 extant genera. Members share the order's characteristic silk-producing foretarsi and subsocial colonial habits, but differ from other embiopteran families in specific genitalic and wing-venation characters used in family-level taxonomy.

Etymology

Example

The genus Scelembia, namesake of Scelembiidae, includes species that construct extensive silk galleries under bark or stones in warm temperate and tropical regions.

Synonyms

• Archembiidae

Related Terms

• Embioptera
• webspinner
• Archembiidae
• embiid silk
• subsocial
• Apterous

Usage Notes

Sometimes listed under the synonym Archembiidae in older literature; current usage follows Ross (2001) and subsequent revisions. Distinguished from the larger family Embiidae by male genitalic and wing morphology. All members are gregarious, with colonies founded by female-first instar associations.