Collembola popularly known as "Springtail" dominate micro faunal insect biomass in the soil and their significant effects on the soil structure, aeration and fertility are well documented. Collembolans are primitive, small (0.25 to 6 mm in length) wingless insects, occurring in all possible habitats.
I realized that they are in Class Collembola. This means they are not insects and don't properly fit into this group.
While often grouped with insects, they are considered a separate lineage within Hexapoda, largely due to their internal mouthparts (entognathy).
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Collembola
Orders: Entomobryomorpha, Poduromorpha, Symphypleona, and Neelipleona (the latter being disputed by some)
Did you know that there are 4 Orders among Collembola! We often present the Symphypleone with a rounded body, but we must not forget the Entomobryomorpha .
Collembolas are small wingless soft-bodied hexapods measuring usually between 0.2 mm - 6 mm in th length possessing a spring like jumping organ, the furcula, underneath the 4 abdominal segment.
Mouthparts entognathous, principally adapted for biting; antennae usually four segmented.
Compound eyes present or absent. Abdomen six segmented. The presence of antennae and absence of st cerci distinguishes them from the other entognathous hexapods. Collophore is underneath the 1 abdominal segment.
Collembola or springtails are one of the most predominant mesofauna found in soil, litter and dumpy places of forests, caves, mountains and deserts. Such diverse niche selection makes species richness
high which is often neglected due to poor investigation and deficit taxonomic data.
There are 9400 published Collembola species till now to which only 3.86% is revealed from India; this reflects a lot of taxonomic work that is yet to be done in near future. A total of 377 valid species under 123 genera grouped in 20 families have been reported by Mandal et. al., 2023 (in press). Of 377, 195 endemic to India.
Out of 377 species of Collembola fauna recorded from India, 195 species are endemic to India.
Springtails:
Role: Detritivores, fragmentor , disseminator, regulator, prey.
Habitat: Collembolas are soil and litter dwelling organisms, preferring wet or damp surroundings.
They may be found in moss, under stones, in caves, in ant and termite nests but also in the intertidal zone.
These organisms inhabit a wide range of
ecological niches. Majority live in environs where moisture and organic matter and are present, such as litter, humus and subsoil layer of arable and forest land. They are also found localized under log, stones,
loose bark, leaf molds, moss fungus, lichens etc.
Collembolas are major components of terrestrial ecosystems, particularly
significant members of the soil communities, constituting a significant proportion of the animal biomass. In forest soils, they can reach densities of 200 to 1800 individuals per dm3.
Collembolan fauna play an important role in the rehabilitation of damaged top soil and being a major member of soil mesofauna helps in pioneer phases of soil formation (Buckland & Cope, 1991). Their presence also indicates health and fertility of soils, thus they act as a potent bio-indicator . Collembola significantly act as a prey in the detrivorous ecosystem, thus creating more interconnections in the food web at the soil mesofaunal level.
Collembola.(springtail). Likely family Entomobryidae.. has enlarged 4th abdominal segment.
This family has colorful species too. Color can be used to identify species
And I am seeing these Collembolas in my Big soil container where I am kind of.. keeping them, but they are naturally present in the soil(not introduced) and I now regularly watch them(to understand their role and behaviour)... and also keep the soil moist,with a lot of decaying leaf and plant matter to provide an ideal habitat. And I see 3 species living together. One is blind(no eyes).
I have 3 different looking springtails in my soil they are as followed -
1. Small white blind that congregate- is probably Cyphoderus sp.
(This is under genus Cyphoderus, which is very much abundant in tropical conditions)
Cyphoderus- Yes, They are blind.
2. Black stripped ones-may be W. jacobsoni / Willowsia jacobsoni (family Entomobryidae.
The black girdles and yellowish colour also depicts similarities with genus Willowsia.)
3. This I believe to be Seira sp. (Entomobryidae).
1-Nature’s Tiny Architects of Soil Health! This tiny, soil-dwelling arthropods play a crucial role in decomposing organic matter and enriching soil fertility. By breaking down leaf litter and recycling nutrients, they enhance microbial activity and maintain soil structure.
2.-Willowsia
I note the pattern of pigmented bands and spots on the dorsal side is variable.
#Soil #Microarthropods
#springtails #collembolla #soilcreatures #livestream #soilmesofauna #microfauna #soil
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