some springtail genera/species to know: symphypleona and neelipleona (“sminthurids and neelids)

Some springtail genera/species to know: Symphypleona and neelipleona

(“sminthurids and neelids)

Peter Shaw

SminthurusSminthurus viridis, the lucerne flea, is very common an widespread, almost always on vegetation and collected by beating trays or Dvac. Ant IV has 18 segments (ish)

Sminthurus viridis

Allacma fusca

One of the largest and most distinctive sminthurids, typically in canopy communities, grazzing on algae on bark etc. Ant IV has 16 segments.

Dicyrtoma / Dicyrtomina

Common, distinctive and very pretty, the dicyrtomids are distinguished by ant IV being stubby and reduced. Note the waxy filaments in life, that vanish in IMS. The genera are separated by +/- a membrane around the claw of the foot.

Dicyrtoma fuscaDicyrtomina saundersii

A complex maltese cross gives D. saundersii, a simple blob D. ornata or D. minuta.

Dicyrtomina ornata(solid splodge)

Dicyrtomina saundersi (maltese cross)

1mm

Male Dicyrtominas are sexually dimorphic – much darker. This is uncommonly seen.