Symphyla
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Symphylans, also known as garden centipedes or pseudocentipedes, are soil-dwelling arthropods of the class Symphyla in the subphylum Myriapoda. Symphylans resemble centipedes but are very small, non-v
Scutigerella 116012425
Garden Centipede Symphyla sp.
Individuals of Scutigerella sp. (left, top) and Scolopendrellidae (right, bottom), showing their small size
Life stages of symphylans: eggs, juvenile, and adult Scutigerella immaculata
Cercus
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Cerci are paired appendages usually on the rear-most segments of many arthropods, including insects and symphylans. Many forms of cerci serve as sensory organs, but some serve as pinching weapons or a
Symphyla
…of the body. Legs are found on the first 12 segments. The 13th segment, which is fused with the 12th segment, bears a pair of spinnerets that resemble cerci, and the 14th segment has a pair of long sensory hairs (trichobothria). Around the anal opening there is a small telson. Symphylans have been reported…
Earwig with large cerci (top)
Cercus of an adult female Gryllus pennsylvanicus
Short cerci on abdomen of a species of pamphagid grasshopper
Long sensory cerci on Ctenolepisma, flanking the median cerciform appendage and paired stylets