Collembola, commonly known as springtails, are small wingless arthropods that use a furcula, or springing organ, to jump. They lack eyes and have four segmented antennae. An adhesive collophore on their first abdominal segment helps with water balance. A retinaculum holds the furcula beneath their body. Malpighian tubules and tracheal systems are usually absent. Diplura are also small soft-bodied soil-dwelling insects that feed on dead organic matter. They have many segmented antennae and chewing mouthparts. Paired appendages are present on their abdominal segments and their tarsi are one segmented.
2. Collembola
Collembola : Coll – glue; embol – wedge or peg
Synonyms : Oligentoma, Oligoetomata
Common names : Spring tails, Snow flea
3. Distinguishing Characteristics:
• They are small, wingless arthropods, usually 1 – 3 mm long.
• They are the smallest hexapods in the world.
• Compound eyes are absent and antennae are four segmented.
• Mouthparts are entognathous biting type and found within a pouch.
• Tibia is fused with tarsus to from tibio - tarsus.
4. Ventral tube or Glue peg or Collophore: It is found in first abdominal
segment. It function as an adhesive organ, but it is involved mainly in
maintaining the water balance, absorbing moisture from the environment.
Furcula or Springing organ: It consists of a basal manubrium, paried
dens and distal claws called mucro. It is held under tension beneath the
abdomen by retinaculum when at rest.
Hamula or Tenaculum or Retinaculum: It is present on the third
abdominal segment. It consists of a fused basal piece, corpus and free distal part
called rami. It holds the furcula.
Malpighian tubules, tracheal system and metamorphosis usually absent.
5.
6. Importance: Sminthurus viridis is a
pest on alfalfa. It can be collected
from moist places in soil. They are
also found in mushroom houses as a
pest.
8. Habit: Feed on dead organic matters and fungus.
Habitat: They are found in damp place in the soil, under stone, bark, among
fallen leaves, in rotting wood, in debris etc.
Distinguish feature:
• Primary soft – bodies, unpigmented, wingless small insect.
• Mouth parts ectognathous and chewing type.
• Flagella segments provided with muscles.
• Antennae many segmented.
• Compound eye and ocelli absent.
• Abdomeninal segments with paired lateral pregenital styliform
appendages.
• Terminal median filament absent.
• Tarsi one segmented.
• Tracheal system present.
• Malpighian tubules vestigial or absent.
