Mirolepisma
Silvestri, 1938
Species Guides
1Mirolepisma is a of silverfish in the Lepismatidae, containing only the Mirolepisma deserticola. The genus was established by Silvestri in 1938. Members of this genus are small, wingless insects belonging to the order Zygentoma, an ancient lineage of insects that predates winged insects.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Mirolepisma: //maɪroʊləˈpɪzmə//
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Identification
Mirolepisma can be distinguished from other Lepismatidae by characteristics of the single included M. deserticola. As a Zygentoma genus, members possess the typical silverfish body plan: elongated, flattened, and covered with . Specific diagnostic features for the genus require examination of .
Similar Taxa
- LepismaBoth are in the Lepismatidae; Lepisma contains multiple including the common silverfish Lepisma saccharina, while Mirolepisma is with only M. deserticola.
- CtenolepismaBoth belong to Lepismatidae and share the general silverfish ; Ctenolepisma is a larger with multiple and broader geographic distribution.
More Details
Taxonomic status
Mirolepisma is a , meaning it contains only a single recognized , Mirolepisma deserticola. The genus has received limited taxonomic study beyond its original description.
Data availability
This is represented by only 67 observations on iNaturalist, indicating it is rarely encountered or underreported in citizen science databases. Detailed biological information appears sparse in the primary literature.