Giant Firebrat of Corvallis. . .. .. .. .. . . Ƣݔҩᾫ٨ӷ quaoar

[Katmamik]

I was thinking that thing looked like a silverfish before i read the story, but I didnt think it was 7 inches long.

[Ijustwanttolisteable]

Arlo, are you an entomologist? Just curious, as I've always wanted to be one since I was a child, but alas, the process is rather costly, and I'm not the best student..

[memutic]

@Ijustwanttolisteable I'm a zoologist, and mostly self-taught. You don't need any costly processes if you like to learn - get some books!

[neverhero3215]

It has a neat sheen to it's shell.

[matheuswoww]

That awkward moment when you start clinching at the wind breeze after watching this.

[NinjaAngel619]

lyrics please?

[memutic]

@NinjaAngel619 Further down in the comments section.

[TypesEvilAspieEyes]

Soo cute !! I love when they crawl on my hand and play

[t3rr411]

Super Soakers are the best toy Ever

[scrapthrall]

Nuke it from orbit,it's the only way to be sure...:D

[copperfists]

what is this? song lol i love it

[crimses]

ha! now nobobdy can say kill it with fire there immune haha!

[EdiSabanagic123]

That looks like something i stepped on in my basement

[MrLmaoLover]

@EdiSabanagic123 which color was it?

[codmw2isagoodgame]

@EdiSabanagic123 probaly a silverfish they are both relatively similar accept silverfish have silver scales a common basement creature.

[pVVENx]

I hate your descriptions. There's enough damage caused to animals, especially invertebrates, by people who spread fear and misinformation. Please promote the facts, and not sensationalism, even if it is only for entertainment value (and the facts are much more interesting, anyway).

[memutic]

@pVVENx This is probably an undescribed species. I haven't personally been able to find any citation of a firebrat this big. I found it in Corvallis, and that's all I know. Since you seem to think there is a higher order of truth I could be providing about this animal, I invite YOU, pVVENx, to supply us with some of these more-interesting facts you speak of.

[67stang351cle]

@memutic What the hell is wrong with these people? First you acquire some pompous adolescent that can't stand the use of public domain music on your videos, and now another self-righteous bastard is attacking the satirical nature of your descriptions!? I'm starting to think Youtube has become completely overrun with cynicism and arrogance! I simply can't understand why these people can't enjoy your work for what it is, after all, it's not like they are offering constructive criticism.

[memutic]

@67stang351cle I think pVVENx's heart is in the right place, there IS a lot of misinformation out there. But it is tiresome to be told "do it differently" by people who are unwilling to do it at all. Thanks for watching my videos! Don't let the inane comments get under your skin - it's either this kind of crap, "kill it with fire," or "damn nature you scary," day in, day out.

[pVVENx]

@memutic Please try to understand, my criticism came from disappointment. I've been watching your videos for a couple of years now, and you've introduced us all to a ton of different creatures and taught us things about them. You have a unique opportunity here: undivided attention on the internet. I know you're not required to teach, but you should know it IS appreciated. Firebrats are a household pest, a "squash first, ask questions later" critter, but we could still learn a lot from them

[memutic]

@pVVENx I agree! And you'll also notice I didn't squash this one, nor do I squash any bug in any of my videos. I appreciate your sentiment, but I still challenge YOU to come up with something relevant to say about a giant undescribed lepismatid like this one. It's not as easy as you might think. What does it eat? Unknown. Is it a pest? No. Life cycle? Unknown. Maximum size? Unknown. See?

[pVVENx]

@memutic I didn't accuse you of squashing this one, or any other, or anything else. I don't know anything more about that particular species of firebrat than you (less, admittedly), but I did go looking into firebrats in general. Since you keep harassing me for information on the spot, I'll post what I've compiled so far. I am missing a lot, such as how old the order Thysanura actually is, but I know it's several millions of years older than us. That sort of success is worth noting.

[pVVENx]

@memutic Firebrats (Thermobia domestica) are close relatives of silverfish, and are sometimes known as bristletails for the three long filaments coming off of their abdomen. Their latin name comes from their preference for high temperatures and humidity, often leading them to take up residence in man-made structures. Like silverfish, they feed primarily on carbohydrates and starch.

[pVVENx]

@memutic Firebrats are harmless, carry no human-transmissable diseases, but are considered a household pest, as they tend to eat the binding on books and wallpaper and contaminate food that isn't properly stored. 

[pVVENx]

@memutic Firebrats only lay eggs if the temperature is around the range of 90-106*F, and their populations can be controlled by keeping their environment cool. Females can lay almost 200 eggs in a lifetime, which hatch after 12-13 days of incubation. Firebrats are nocturnal, and hide during the day in cracks and other narrow spaces.

[pVVENx]

@memutic You are more fortunate than I to have apparently discovered an unknown species. If you learn more about it, I would be grateful to hear it.

[memutic]

@pVVENx thanks for the info. Pictures of this individual are making the rounds with experts to see if anyone recognizes it, and if we figure anything out, I'll update the description. Don't feel harassed - I wasn't expecting you to "take the bait" here and copy a bunch of stuff about a different species. All those things you write are true of T. domestica, but may not be true of this species. Turns out Lepismatidae is a bit more diverse than anyone expected.

[pVVENx]

@memutic I care, so I'm willing to put my money where my mouth is, or my foot there instead if I'm wrong. I know it's difficult to get information on animals, especially insects, and *especially* if they're prolific. It seems the more widespread an insect is, the less people care about it. I found what I could. That's why I look to someone like you, out in the field, as a possible source of new information. At any rate, this went farther than it should, and I'm glad we came to an understanding.

[Pikadono]

I love your descriptions.

[MrIvanKite]

I've always love silverfish, no I see this bit of awsome.

[broly2099]

hermoso insecto

[sasori455]

Quick! Throw a Pokeball at it!

[eagleclaw006]

"Because they are immune to fire..."

and I thought sandspiders were scary.

[SnowyHaze]

Immune to fire???? so that means if i blasted that insect with a flame thrower, it would live....???? How is that even possible.

[noobrider100]

@SnowyHaze read the rest of the description genius...

[memutic]

@noobrider100 Come on, let's sustain the illusion a little...

[noobrider100]

@memutic Haha <3

Quick question Memutic, what's your official job title? Would it just come under as a Zoologist?

[DarwinKnight2011]

@noobrider100 This guy's title is "Fabricator." I exhaustively researched the taxonomy, and Megalepisma castor definitely does not have a ventral tracheal commissure of the eighth abdominal segment. This is obviously the Eugene Giant Firebrat, Megalepisma anas.

[noobrider100]

@DarwinKnight2011 eh?

[memutic]

@DarwinKnight2011 Wipe the pus out of your eyes and take a closer look. The spermatheca lies beneath the eighth abdominal ganglion and communicates with the oviduct, ovipositor, and genital pore above the eighth sternite. No way this is M. anas.

[janinoob]

i <3 your descriptions!

[alexpro00red3]

Ƣݔҩᾫ٨ӷ quaoar <---- One day i would love to know what this means :/

[memutic]

@alexpro00red3 Coming soon! Working on that right now!

[blackkat77]

it sounds like rugrats theme

[frymybaconpl0x]

if i saw one of those in my garbage id probably poop myself and then shove a carrot up my ass and get a nametag that says "hello, my name is sally."

[TheLizardLover]

You have the most interesting videos! I love seeing them!

[reapermachine]

hello

[Andalucia727]

So these little guys can outcompete rats for resources?

[9385dee7]

weird as fuck

[kripplespiele]

i've seen many of these, only not the large ones, just small gray 10 mm ones, always wondered what they were, better stay away from them from now on knowing that they can carry diseases

anyways, immune to fire? that sounds so strange

[Peteworth]

You always have the best descriptions!

[Peteworth]

You always have the best descriptions!

[Maximal32nd]

Anyone that thinks it's a silverfish should do some research. I keep a small population of firebrats as they're the preferred food for my house centipedes. Thanks for posting memutic. I love your vids. Would be great to see more firebrat (or house centipede) footage.

[DJJimCowley]

imagine getting up to go the toilet and turning on the light and seeing ten of these running around ! thank god i live in ireland where silverfish are no bigger than your nail

[MultiPeaceboy]

du du duu dud uu du duud du duu du duu du du du du duu dud uu du duud du duu du duu du du du du duu dud uu du duud du duu du duu du du du du duu dud uu du duud du duu du duu du du du du duu dud uu du duud du duu du duu du du du du duu dud uu du duud du duu du duu du du du du duu dud uu du duud du duu du duu du du du du duu dud uu du duud du duu du duu du du

[memutic]

@MultiPeaceboy Thanks for transcribing my song!

I love the part where it goes duu dud uu du duud du duu du duu - that took me a long time to compose.

[MultiPeaceboy]

@memutic Lol you are welcome ! love your videos by the way : )

[makemebadfan95]

@memutic I know it obviously looks like a Bug. But is it? Sorry for dumbing it down. If its not, what type of branch is it in?

[ElvisLivesUpstairs]

@MultiPeaceboy lol

[sasori455]

You sure like to film Pokemon.

[Quamlen]

@sasori455 I was just going to say that!

[cr3am3dCAK3]

is it like....a venomous creature that one single bite could kill you?

[MemorysMystic]

looks like a sliver fish

[vcxlll]

:P when i first saw this, i went like "ooohh.. a goldfish(golden silverfish)!!!"

[wkkimmy]

seems to be a silverfish

[ExtroInferno]

I always loved firebrats and silverfish.

[roark100]

Its cute its also prehistoric i love it

[comebackkidx95]

Looks like a large silverfish

[XxgrowthxspirtxX]

It's a golden silverfish.

[armykiller96]

looks like something from the desert

[dingoman]

Reminds me of a silverfish...

[ShannyCleaner]

that's a good one there are alot of those here in NEvada.. You should totally do a talking segment..

[memutic]

@ShannyCleaner There's just not that much to say about these, unfortunately. I don't even know which species this is. 

[Sprollucy]

@memutic Its cute, theres alot to say!

[nc17atnce101]

looks like a giant monster

[MetalDominican]

thats a fckin silverfish from hell

[DonDarb]

cool I like its name lol

[elementsk8forlife]

i gotta poop.