Archaeognatha Börner, 1904

The jumping bristletails can be found throughout the world.  Their name comes from the ability to jump about 25 cm. at a time. They can survive in various environments ranging from the desert to the arctic.  They prefer to live under leaf litter and feed on algae.  They live up to about four years and grow up to about 15 mm. long.  They have scales, antennae, and three-pronged tails.  Their abdomen has eversible vesicles attached, which absorb water.  Their exoskeletons are thin and the vesicles prevent dehydration.  They undergo simple metamorphosis.  They attach themselves to a substrate before molting.  They molt their entire live, through both the youth and adult stages.  The young take about two years to become sexually mature.  After mating, a female will lay about thirty eggs at one time.  They can be found at night by shining a flashlight for about fifteen minutes on a spot with leaf litter.  The archaeognatha will be drawn to the light.