Wygodzinsky, P. and K. Schmidt. The second of two major, extant lineages of true Insects that orginated prior to the appearance of wings. There are about 30 species in North America with about 370 species in the world. The eyes are much smaller than Microcoryphian eyes and do not touch. They can be found under stones, bark and in leaf litter and they generally feed on vegetation.
All species are nocturnal and secretive.
They do not jump like Microcorphians but Thysanurans can run quite fast. House frequenting species are the most often encountered but it is very difficult to capture Thysanurans without damaging them. Thysanurans are too soft-bodied and delicate to pin and dry but due to their scales, which float off in liquid, they do not preserve well in ETOH either. Wild species can be found in Berlese extractions and pitfall traps. In New England we have only species of the family Lepismatidae.