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Diplura

Diplurans

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Following modified from Insect Collection, University of Guelph
   
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Class and Order - DIPLURA & PROTURA
(Greek, diploos = two; oura = tail)
Common Names: none
Distribution: Cosmopolitan

Description
The Diplura and Protura are primitively wingless orders (not descended from winged ancestors). Protura, which lack antennae and cerci, are tiny and rarely noticed (so I have no photographs to include here!). Diplura can be found under rocks and logs or in the soil, and are small, eyeless insects with two antennae and two tails (cerci). The most common diplurans are elongate, white Campodeidae with long cerci. The somewhat earwig-like Japygidae have forceps-like cerci.

Following served from NC State College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
   
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Following modified from Lucid via Discover Life
   
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A dipluran feeding on decaying organic matter

Class and Order - DIPLURA
(Greek, diploos = two; oura = tail)
Common Names: none
Distribution: Cosmopolitan

Description
Diplura are small arthropods closely related to insects. They lack compound eyes but may have light sensitive spots on their heads called pseudoculi. Antennae resemble a chain of beads (moniliform). Legs are 5-segmented. Body colour is usually very pale and they are always wingless. The abdomen always has 10 segments and is quite long. A characteristic of the order Diplura is that the last segment of the abdomen has two appendages (cerci) which may be long and hair-like, or short and curved resembling the pincers of earwigs.


Nymph
There is no metamorphic cycle of egg-larva-pupa-adult. The young nymphs emerge from the eggs and resemble the adult. Nymphs grow through successive moults. Moulting continues throughout the adult stage. Some species exhibit maternal behaviour by protecting both eggs and nymphs.


Members
Common names are not given for members of this order.


Food
Diplurans with abdominal pincers are predators. These arthropods burrow into soft, moist soil so that only the abdominal pincers are exposed. If a passing slater or small insect passes near the pincers, it is captured and dragged into the burrow to be consumed. Other diplurans feed on decaying vegetation.


Importance
Diplurans have no known economic importance. The presence of some species in the food chains of ecosystems implies a part in the re-cycling of plant material in forests.

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Updated: 2009-11-22 03:47:44 gmt
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