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| Firebrat | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| General information | |||
| Universe | Real Life | ||
| Aliases | Thermophila furnorum | ||
| Classification | Thermobia domestica | ||
| Species type | Zygentoman | ||
| Homeworld | Earth | ||
| Environment | Nearly Cosmopolitan | ||
| Intelligence | Non-sapient | ||
| Biochemistry | Carbon-based lifeform | ||
| Biological information | |||
| Lifespan | 3-5 years | ||
| Reproduction | Sexual; lays eggs | ||
| Average length | 1–1.5 cm | ||
| Locomotion | Crawling on six legs | ||
| Feeding behavior | Detritivorous | ||
| Prey | Carbohydrates & starches (ex. dog food, Flour, Book bindings) | ||
| Lineage information | |||
| Related species | Silverfish, Giant Silverfish | ||
| Cultural information | |||
| Alignment | True Neutral | ||
| Sociocultral characteristics | |||
| Scientific taxonomy | |||
| Planet | Earth | ||
| Domain | Eukaryota | ||
| Kingdom | Animalia | ||
| Subkingdom | Eumetazoa | ||
| Infrakingdom | Bilateria | ||
| Superphylum | Ecdysozoa | ||
| Phylum | Arthropoda (Arthropods) | ||
| Subphylum | Hexapoda | ||
| Class | Insecta (Insects) | ||
| Subclass | Apterygota | ||
| Order | Zygentoma (formerly Thysanura) (Silverfish & their relatives) | ||
| Family | Lepismatidae | ||
| Genus | Thermobia (Thermobians) | ||
| Species | T. domestica | ||
| Other information | |||
| Status | Least Concern | ||
| Last sighting | Current | ||
Firebrats (Thermobia domestica or occasionally Thermophila furnorum) is a small thysanuran related to the silverfish. In direct contrast to the Silverfish, the Firebrat prefers higher temperatures and require some level of humidity. They can be expected to be found in locations like bakeries or near boilers and furnaces.
Detritivores by nature they feed upon a wide variety of carbohydrates and starches so long as they are protein sources as well, which in modern times may include dog food, flour and book bindings, making them pests in human society although they do not cause major damage; even so they can contaminate food stock, damage paper goods and stain clothing. Outside of this they are mostly harmless. Almost cosmopolitan, they can be found throughout most parts of the world, especially in human settlements, but are naturally found outdoors under rocks, leaf litter and similar environs.
A female firebrat begins laying eggs at the age of 1½ to 4½ months, so long as the temperature is between 32–41 °C (90–106 °F). Again in stark contrast to their relatives the Silverfish, they may lay up to 10,000,000 eggs during their lifetime. After an incubation period of 12–13 days the nymphs hatch. The timeline of maturity varies between as little as 2-4 months, which leaves them open to produce several generations each and every year.