Thermobia domestica
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
The firebrat (Thermobia domestica) is a small insect (typically 1–1.5 cm) in the order Zygentoma. They look similar to the related silverfishes, but are distinguished by their habit of living in warm regions of homes, of which they get their name.
Firebrats prefer relatively warm temperatures (36–39 °C) and require some humidity. They are commonly found indoors near heat sources such as furnaces and boilers. They feed on a wide variety of carbohydrates and starches that are also protein sources such as dog food, flour and book bindings. Firebrats also practice cannibalism, eating the eggs, exuviae and corpses of other firebrats. They are distributed throughout most parts of the world and are normally found outdoors under rocks, plant litter, and in similar environments, but are also often found indoors where they are considered pests. They do not cause major damage, but they can contaminate food, damage paper goods, and stain clothing. Otherwise they are mostly harmless. Due to the fact that, in nature, they tend to live in moist environments, the exoskeleton of firebrats is capable of both retaining and excreting water depending on the ambient temperature in their... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Death Valley National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
More parks will be added in future updates.
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Firebrat sighting in Vancouver on a given day, based on 8 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 374th most-seen of the 482 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.
Any time of year
In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Firebrat in Vancouver on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.
Between 7 and 10 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Firebrat sightings with a recorded time, and about 6 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is seen both by day and at night.
5th of 8
Of the 8 cities where we can rate Firebrat sightings, Vancouver ranks 5th at under 5%. The best odds are in Las Vegas (United States, about 10%), Mesa (United States, about 10%) and Phoenix (United States, under 5%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Firebrat is recorded against all the insects logged in Vancouver (8 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
