Antennal-claspers
Guides
Sminthurididae
Sminthurididae is a family of globular springtails (Collembola: Symphypleona) distinguished by extreme sexual dimorphism, particularly in antennae structure and body size. Males possess clasper-shaped modified antennae used in courtship displays, while females retain unmodified antennae; males are also markedly smaller than females. The family comprises approximately 155 species across 12 extant genera, with notable diversity in the Neotropical region. Diagnostic morphological features include spherical short ventral tube sacs, presence of all abdominal bothriotricha (A–E), and absence of subanal appendage in females.