Atelurinae
| Atelurinae | |
|---|---|
| Atelura formicaria | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Zygentoma |
| Family: | Nicoletiidae |
| Subfamily: | Atelurinae Remington, 1954 |
| Diversity | |
| About 70 genera 140 species | |
Atelurinae is a subfamily of primitive insects belonging to the order Zygentoma. Once considered an independent family, it is now treated as a subfamily within the Nicoletiidae. They are generally found in association with ants or termites, living as inquilines in the hosts' nests. They are typically small, tear-drop or sub-ovoid in body shape, light yellow in color and lacking eyes. The subfamily is quite diverse, with more than 140 described species in about 70 genera; many of the genera are monotypic.