Firebrat

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/firebrat

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Thermobia domestica
2. What is the order?Zygentoma
3. Why do firebrats like warm places?Firebrats love heat because their bodies work best at temperatures between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius (77 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit). Warm spots help them stay active and find food easily.
4. Where can you find firebrats in a house?They are often found in kitchens, laundry rooms, near furnaces, boilers, and plumbing areas where there is steady warmth and moisture. They hide in dark cracks during the day and come out at night.

Zygentoma: An ancient order of wingless insects characterized by primitive morphology and chewing mouthparts.
Thermophilic: An organism that thrives at relatively high temperatures.
Synanthropy: The phenomenon of species adapting to live in close association with human settlements.
Detritivore: An organism that feeds on dead organic matter, playing a role in decomposition.