Zoraptera

views updated

Zoraptera (class Insecta, subclass Pterygota) Order of small (less than 3 mm long), exopterygote insects which superficially resemble termites and are gregarious, although they appear to lack true social organization. They live under bark, and in association with plant debris, and feed on fungal spores and small arthropods, probably dead ones. Adults may be winged and pigmented, with eyes and ocelli; or non-pigmented, wingless, and blind. There is one genus, with 22 described species, occurring in the Ethiopian, Oriental, Nearctic, Neotropical, and Pacific regions.

More From encyclopedia.com