Ordinary scales (sugar scales, lat. Lepisma Saccharina) lived on Earth three hundred million years ago. They belong to the type of arthropod and a squad of bristles. Now these insects are often found in apartments. They fall into the house from products containing starch and polysaccharides. They do not carry harm to human health.
Appearance
An ordinary scales are a very small insect with a body length from 0.8 millimeters to 1, 9 centimeters. The body itself is flat and narrowed at the end. The color is predominantly silver-gray. However, this color appears after the third molting. Thanks to the scaly cover and received the name “Czech”. The insect has a tail on which there are three threads, two of them are located on the sides and one in the middle. There are small antennae on the head.
An ordinary scaly does not have wings, but endowed with only in the body and three pairs of the legs.
Habitat
As a habitat, ordinary scalys choose moisturized and darkened places. In nature, they live mainly under fallen leaves, snags or stones. Wet and warm places are chosen on the territory of houses, as a rule, settle in bathrooms. Due to the structure of the body, they cannot rise above the second tier, so they most often live on the ground or on the floor. An ordinary scales will not survive in dry and bright rooms.
The activity of these types falls on the dark, the daytime is spent in the dark. There is an assumption that the clan of the scales is going straight from the tropics, since there are the best conditions for them for them. Also ordinary scales are extremely fast.
Food
As a habitat, ordinary scalys choose plant products in which the high content of starch and polysaccharide. Their diet includes such types of products as sugar, glue, flour, paper, starchy fabrics. Ordinary scales living in forests feed mainly with plants, which also have starch and polysaccharides.
Reproduction
Ordinary scalys have pronounced sexual dimorphism, in which the difference in individuals lies in the structure of the reproductive system of representatives. As such, there is no mating process between individuals of different sexes. Males leave their spermatophores, which females then find and fertilize independently. After direct fertilization, the eggs are deposited. As a rule, about 50 eggs appear, but the quantity can vary from 20 to 70. It is determined by the state of the environment. The more humid climate and warm temperature, the more offspring is born. At a temperature of 30 degrees, incubation lasts about 25 days. Eggs of not more than one millimeter of brown color. White larvae without reproductive system and scales appear from them. The condition of the adult larvae is achieved after 5 line.
The life expectancy of ordinary scalys can be more than 4 years.
Home behavior
If the number of ordinary scalys is large, they cause damage to the house, gnawing bags, spoiling books and curtains. Despite the fact that these insects are absolutely safe for humans, they can lay eggs into food, which greatly reduces the quality of the product. Since the ordinary scales are extremely fast, it catches particles of dirt and dust, spreading it around the house.
