Order Zoraptera
Zorapterans
General Description
The name Zoraptera is derived from the Greek "zor" meaning pure and "aptera" meaning wingless, which was given to the order before winged forms were discovered.
Not much is known about these rare insects.
Morphological Characteristics
Immatures:
 | Structurally similar to adults |
| Always wingless |
Adults:
| Antennae 9-segmented |
| Mouthparts mandibulate, hypognathous |
| Soft-bodied, small (usually less than 4 mm) |
| Wings often absent, with reduced venation when present |
| Tarsi 2-segmented |
| Cerci one-segmented |
Biology
| Found in rotting wood, under bark, or in piles of old sawdust. They live in small aggregations and appear to scavenge on spores and mycelium of fungi, or occasionally, on mites and other small arthropods. |
| Some Zoraptera are blind, pale in colour, and wingless, while other members of the same species may be darkly pigmented with compound eyes and wings. |
Distribution
Zorapterans are rare and are usually found only in association with rotting wood or piles of aged sawdust. In North America, there are only 2 known species from one family; worldwide, there are about 30 species all from one family.
Economic Importance
There is no economic importance for zorapterans.
Interesting Facts
| Zoraptera is the second smallest insect order. |
| Some species of Zoraptera have been found living in the nests of termites and mammals, but it is not known what these insects are doing there. |