Collembola
Guides
Acherontides
Acherontides is a genus of springtails (Collembola) in the family Hypogastruridae. GBIF indexes records assigned to the genus from Brazil, Mexico, and France, though those records do not define its full range. Identification can require fine chaetotaxy—the arrangement of body bristles—and other small structures examined in a taxonomic key. A Brazilian species, Acherontides serrasapoensis, was described with a comparative key to the genus.
Acherontiella
Acherontiella is a cosmopolitan genus of springtails in the family Hypogastruridae, with 22 species reported worldwide in a 2025 revision. Its species are tiny, fusiform and unpigmented, and the genus is diagnosed by a combination that includes the absence of eyes, a post-antennal organ, a retinaculum and the springing furca. Some species live in soil, while many are known from caves. That mix makes the genus a useful example of how closely related springtails can occupy both surface soils and subterranean habitats.
Acheroxenylla
Acheroxenylla is a genus of tiny springtails in the family Hypogastruridae, with four species described in the taxonomic literature. Its members are known from Crete, the Canary Islands, and Peru. The genus is recognized by a combination of minute head and leg characters, including two eyes on each side of the head and no postantennal organ; the spring-like furcula is reduced or absent in some species but well developed in another. A Peruvian cave species was collected on oilbird guano, extending the known genus to South America.
Agrenia
Agrenia is a genus of springtails (Collembola: Isotomidae) distributed across arctic, boreal, and mountainous regions of the northern hemisphere. The genus was formerly monotypic but now contains multiple species divided into two groups: the bidenticulata-group (with mucronal seta) and the agilis-group (without mucronal seta). Species exhibit morphological variation in claw structure related to latitude, with some populations showing sexual polymorphism and cyclomorphosis.
Agrenia bidenticulata
Agrenia bidenticulata is the type species of the genus Agrenia, a springtail in the family Isotomidae. It belongs to the bidenticulata species group, characterized by the presence of a mucronal seta. Populations show considerable morphological variation across their range, with Buryatian mountain forms differing from typical arctic populations in claw length. The species exhibits sexual polymorphism (epitoky) and cyclomorphosis.
Allonychiurus
Allonychiurus is a genus of springtails (Collembola) in the family Onychiuridae, established by Yoshii in 1995. The genus includes species that inhabit soil ecosystems, with Allonychiurus kimi being particularly well-studied as an ISO-standardized soil bioindicator for ecotoxicology. Members are wingless and exhibit limited mobility, with some species showing negative phototaxis. The genus has been documented across Arctic, subarctic, and temperate regions including Europe and northeastern Eurasia.
Allonychiurus flavescens
Allonychiurus flavescens is a species of springtail in the family Onychiuridae. It is a small, soil-dwelling hexapod found in Pacific North American and Sino-Japanese regions. As an euedaphic collembolan, it lives deep within soil profiles and lacks a furcula (springing organ) typical of surface-dwelling springtails. The species was described by Kinoshita in 1916.
Alloscopus
Alloscopus is a springtail genus in the family Orchesellidae, recorded chiefly from tropical regions. Its species occupy varied moist settings, from forest soil and litter to caves and the forest canopy. A combination of antennal segmentation, a postantennal sensory organ, and spines on the furcula’s dens helps identify the genus. Thai species include both eyeless forms and species with pigmented eye patches.
Amblygamasus
Amblygamasus is an accepted genus of mesostigmatid mites in the family Parasitidae, established by A. Berlese in 1904. The GBIF backbone record currently reports 17 descendants, including species recorded under names associated with both Europe and China. Members of the genus are minute arachnids and are not ordinarily identifiable from a casual field view. A published life-history study of the congeneric species Amblygamasus septentrionalis illustrates the kind of soil-associated predatory biology documented for this group, but its observations should not be treated as universal for every species in the genus.
Americabrya
Americabrya is a genus of springtails (Collembola) in the family Entomobryidae, described in 1987 by Mari Mutt and Palacios-Vargas. It belongs to the subfamily Willowsiinae and tribe Willowsiini. The genus is distributed across the Americas, with records from the Caribbean, northeastern and central Brazil, Pacific North America, and southern North America.
Americanura bara
Americanura bara is a species of springtail in the family Neanuridae, described by K. Christiansen and P. Bellinger in 1980. It belongs to the order Poduromorpha, a group of springtails characterized by their relatively short bodies and reduced furcula. The species is part of the genus Americanura, which contains several North American species. Distribution records indicate presence in northern and southern North America.
Anurida granaria
granary short-legged springtail
Anurida granaria is a springtail species in the family Neanuridae, first described by Hercule Nicolet in 1847. It has been observed in a documented mycophagy association with the cup fungus Peziza arvernensis in southern Brazil, where a colony of over 500 individuals used a single fungal apothecium as both food source and living space. The species exhibits complete life cycle activities including molting, courtship behavior, and oviposition within fungal structures.
Anurophorinae
Anurophorinae is a subfamily of springtails (Collembola) within the family Isotomidae, established by Börner in 1901. Members of this subfamily are characterized by the absence of a furcula (springing organ), a trait reflected in the name 'Anurophorinae' (meaning 'tailless'). These small hexapods are part of the diverse soil and leaf litter fauna, contributing to decomposition processes. The subfamily is moderately well-represented in global collections with over 1,100 iNaturalist observations recorded.
Anurophorus near-septentrionalis
Anurophorus near-septentrionalis is a species of springtail in the family Isotomidae. It belongs to a genus of small, elongate collembolans found primarily in soil and leaf litter habitats. The specific epithet 'near-septentrionalis' suggests morphological similarity to A. septentrionalis, a northern-distributed species, though its precise taxonomic status may require verification.
Archisotoma
Archisotoma is a genus of springtails in the family Isotomidae, with 29 accepted species listed by GBIF. Species are recorded from widely separated regions, and several described forms inhabit shore sands. Identifying them can require close examination of tiny bristles and mouthpart structures rather than color alone. The genus includes species documented from both Norwegian beaches and Brazilian coastal sands.
Arrhopalites
springtails
Arrhopalites is a genus of globular springtails (Collembola: Symphypleona) in the family Arrhopalitidae. The genus comprises approximately 40 valid species, with roughly half considered troglobionts—obligate cave-dwelling organisms. Species occur across diverse habitats including cave systems, forest leaf litter, and soil environments, with distribution spanning the Neotropical Region, Asia, Europe, and other regions. The genus is taxonomically significant for phylogenetic studies of Symphypleona, though many aspects of its biology remain understudied.
Arrhopalites diversus
Arrhopalites diversus is a species of globular springtail in the family Arrhopalitidae, described by H.B. Mills in 1934. It belongs to the order Symphypleona, characterized by a rounded, globular body form. The species has been recorded from multiple regions across North America and the Caribbean. Like other members of its family, it inhabits soil and leaf litter environments.
Arrhopalitidae
Arrhopalitidae is a family of springtails (Collembola) in the order Symphypleona, superfamily Katiannoidea. The family includes three genera: Arrhopalites, Pygmarrhopalites, and Troglopalites. Many species are obligate cave-dwellers (troglobionts) exhibiting pronounced troglomorphy, including reduced pigmentation, elongated appendages, and modified sensory structures. The family has a sister-group relationship with Katiannidae.
Australotomurus
Australotomurus is a genus of springtails (Collembola) in the family Orchesellidae, known only from Australia. A 1985 revision described six species, and later work added further diversity; GBIF currently lists seven accepted species. The genus is associated with long-undisturbed native grasslands and heathlands, while one species, A. morbidus, was found in remnant bushland within Perth. Male antennal structures help distinguish species: A. morbidus differs from described southeastern Australian species in the segments bearing secondary sexual characters.
Austrogastrura
Austrogastrura is a genus of springtails in the family Hypogastruridae. A taxonomic revision reported four known species and recorded two from Brazil. In two Brazilian species treated in that revision, A. travassosi and A. marambaia, living specimens share a bright orange color pattern.
Ballistura tuberculata
Ballistura tuberculata is a species of springtail in the family Isotomidae, described by J. Stach in 1947. It belongs to the order Entomobryomorpha, one of the major lineages of Collembola. The specific epithet 'tuberculata' suggests the presence of tubercle-like structures, though detailed morphological descriptions remain limited in available literature.
Bionychiurus
Bionychiurus is a genus of springtails (Collembola) in the family Onychiuridae, with seven accepted species listed in the GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Published examples include species reported from China and Korea, and B. tamilensis, described from the Nilgiri Hills of India’s Western Ghats. Species-level identification uses specialist characters: a published treatment provides a genus key and documents microscopic pseudocellar patterns and DNA barcoding for B. tamilensis.
Bothriovulsus
Bothriovulsus is a genus of globular springtails (Symphypleona) in the family Dicyrtomidae, established by W.R. Richards in 1968. Members of this genus are small, soil-dwelling hexapods characterized by their rounded body form and reduced furcula. The genus is distributed across the Pacific North American, southern North American, and Sino-Japanese regions. Very few observations exist, with only four records documented on iNaturalist.
Bourletiella
Bourletiella is a genus of springtails in the family Bourletiellidae, suborder Symphypleona. These globular springtails are characterized by their rounded body shape and are among the most frequently observed springtail genera, with over 3,000 iNaturalist records. The genus was established by Banks in 1899 and contains multiple described species distributed across diverse habitats including polar, temperate, and arid regions.
Bourletiella arvalis
globular springtail
Bourletiella arvalis is a globular springtail species in the family Bourletiellidae, characterized by its distinctive yellow to orange body coloration and purple-tipped, pronged antennae. As a member of the Symphypleona order, it exhibits the rounded, globular body form typical of this group rather than the elongated shape of other springtail lineages. The species has been recorded across multiple continents including Europe, the Indian subcontinent, and Macaronesia, suggesting broad distribution.
Bourletiella juanitae
Bourletiella juanitae is a species of globular springtail described by E.A. Maynard in 1951. It belongs to the family Bourletiellidae, a group of springtails characterized by their rounded, compact body form. The species has been documented in western and southern North America. As with other symphypleonan springtails, it possesses a furcula (springing organ) that enables leaping locomotion.
Bourletiella rustica
Bourletiella rustica is a species of globular springtail described by E.A. Maynard in 1951. It belongs to the family Bourletiellidae, a group of small, rounded Collembola characterized by their compact body form. The species is part of the diverse springtail fauna of North America, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Bourletiella savona
Bourletiella savona is a species of globular springtail in the family Bourletiellidae, described by E.A. Maynard in 1951. As a member of the order Symphypleona, it possesses the characteristic rounded, globular body form distinct from the elongated shape of other springtail groups. The species is known from North America. Like other bourletiellid springtails, it inhabits soil and leaf litter environments where it contributes to decomposition processes.
Bourletiella viridescens
garden springtail
Bourletiella viridescens is a species of globular springtail (order Symphypleona) commonly known as the garden springtail. It was described by Stach in 1920 and has been recorded from Europe, the Azores, and Australia. A 2015 taxonomic revision established that Katianna coeruleocephala, described from Java in 1920 from a single collection, is a junior synonym of this species. The species inhabits moist organic substrates and is associated with decomposing plant material.
Brachystomella parvula
Brachystomella parvula is a species of springtail in the family Brachystomellidae, described by Schäffer in 1896. It belongs to the order Poduromorpha, a group of small hexapods characterized by reduced or absent furcula (springing organ) in some families. The species has been recorded from European localities, with additional distribution records from the Azores (Faial and São Miguel islands) and broader Atlantic regions.
Brachystomella villalobosi
Brachystomella villalobosi is a species of springtail described from Brazil in 1962. It belongs to the family Brachystomellidae, a group of small, soil-dwelling hexapods within the order Poduromorpha. The species is documented from northeastern and central Brazil, with records also from the Caribbean mainland. Very few observations exist, with only two records in iNaturalist.
Calvatomina
Calvatomina is a genus of globular springtails (order Symphypleona) in the family Dicyrtomidae, established by Yosii in 1966. These small hexapods are characterized by their rounded body form and are distributed across tropical and subtropical regions including the Amazon, Andes, Caribbean, and Southeast Asia. The genus belongs to the subfamily Dicyrtominae, a group known for their distinctive body shape and reduced mouthpart structures. Records from iNaturalist indicate active observation and documentation of this genus, with approximately 170 observations contributing to its study.
Calvatomina rufescens
Calvatomina rufescens is a globular springtail species in the family Dicyrtomidae, first described by O.M. Reuter in 1892. It belongs to the order Symphypleona, characterized by a rounded, globular body form distinct from the elongate shape of other springtail groups. The species has been recorded from Europe, the Caribbean mainland, and Macaronesia. Like other dicyrtomids, it inhabits moist terrestrial environments where it contributes to decomposition processes.
Calx
Calx is a genus of springtails (Collembola) in the family Entomobryidae, first described by Kenneth Christiansen in 1958. The genus belongs to the subfamily Entomobryinae and tribe Entomobryini. Members of this genus are small, wingless hexapods with the characteristic furcula (springing organ) that defines the order. The genus has been recorded across multiple biogeographic regions including North America, the Caribbean, the Andes, and India.
Ceratophysella gibbosa
Ceratophysella gibbosa is a species of springtail in the family Hypogastruridae. It was originally described as Achorutes gibbosus by Bagnall in 1940. The species has been recorded from the Azores archipelago (Faial, São Miguel, Santa Maria) and Antarctic & Subantarctic regions, as well as the Caribbean mainland. Very little specific biological information is available for this particular species.
Ceratrimeria
Ceratrimeria is a genus of springtails in the family Neanuridae; a 2021 revision counted 11 species and described its range as tropical and subtropical parts of the Old World, from Japan to New Zealand. The genus is recognized in part by a broad, flattened body, but its limits remain unsettled because many older species descriptions are inadequate. Two Japanese species have been redescribed in detail, revealing useful differences in body color pattern and mandible structure. Both were collected in dead wood, especially beneath bark.
Cheirotoma
Cheirotoma is a genus of springtails in the family Isotomidae, established by Bagnall in 1949. Members of this genus are small hexapods found in Pacific North American regions. As part of the diverse Collembola fauna, these organisms contribute to soil ecosystem processes. The genus remains poorly documented with limited published research.
Cheirotoma spatulata
Cheirotoma spatulata is a species of springtail in the family Isotomidae, described by Chamberlain in 1943. The specific epithet "spatulata" refers to a spatulate or spoon-shaped structure, likely describing a diagnostic morphological feature. As a member of Entomobryomorpha, it possesses the scaled body covering characteristic of this diverse order of Collembola. The species has been documented from Pacific North American localities.
Choreutinula
Choreutinula is a genus of springtails in the family Hypogastruridae. A 2010 taxonomic treatment recognized six species and described members from North Dakota and China, while other species are recorded in northern Europe. Species are distinguished by fine chaetotaxy and structures such as the ventral tube, claws, and cuticular tubercles, so identification depends on microscopic examination rather than a single obvious field mark. The genus is notable for its scattered documented range and for species recorded in sharply different settings, from dry warm shores to forest bark.
Coecobrya
Coecobrya is a genus of springtails (Collembola: Entomobryidae) characterized by pronounced troglomorphic adaptations in cave-dwelling species. The genus includes both surface and subterranean species, with Thai cave species exhibiting the most extreme troglomorphy known for Collembola in Southeast Asia. Many species display elongated antennae, legs and furca, reduced pigmentation, and eye loss. The genus has been recorded from caves in Thailand, South Africa, and other regions, with molecular studies supporting species discrimination using COI, 16S rDNA and 28S rDNA markers.
Coecobrya tenebricosa
Coecobrya tenebricosa is a cave-dwelling springtail species in the family Entomobryidae. It belongs to the tenebricosa-group, characterized by the absence of eyes, an unguis with one unpaired median tooth, and a manubrium lacking smooth chaetae. The species has been recorded from multiple disjunct regions including the Caribbean mainland, Europe, Hawaii, Macaronesia, and the Mediterranean.
Coenaletes
Coenaletes is a genus of springtails (Collembola) in the family Coenaletidae. A 2026 species description recognized three species and described an obligately commensal member of the genus. In that species, *C. colombianus*, the springtail was found with the hermit crab *Coenobita compressus* on the seashore of Colombia’s Chocó region.
Cosberella
Cosberella is a genus of springtails in the family Hypogastruridae, with nine accepted named species in the GBIF backbone. A genus-level diagnosis uses microscopic mouthpart and chaetotaxy characters, and those traits vary among species. The published species key documents members from Europe, Siberia, and North America, including a Mexican species described from high-elevation pine-oak forest litter.
Cryptopygus
Cryptopygus is a genus of springtails (Collembola: Isotomidae) with a cosmopolitan distribution spanning polar, temperate, and tropical regions. The genus includes Antarctic endemics such as C. terranovus, a relict species that survived the Last Glacial Maximum on the Antarctic continent, as well as species from seashores, littoral zones, and terrestrial habitats. At least 29 species are recognized in the Americas. Some species exhibit specialized ecological associations, including an undescribed Mexican species found in association with the hermit crab Coenobita clypeatus.
Dagamaea
Dagamaea is a genus of springtails in the family Isotomidae, subfamily Anurophorinae. It was established by R. Yosii in 1965. The genus has been recorded from disjunct localities across the Caribbean, North America, Central Australia, and the Pacific coast of North America. Like other isotomids, members of this genus are small, soil-dwelling hexapods with a furcula (springing organ) for escape locomotion.
Denisiella
Denisiella is a genus of globular springtails in the family Sminthurididae. Described species occur in the Americas, including Brazil and Colombia, while occurrence databases also contain records from several other regions. Identification relies on fine structural characters rather than a single obvious external mark: revisions compare eye number, leg chaetotaxy (the arrangement of bristles), and sensory structures on the legs and antennae.
Desoria
Desoria is a genus of springtails (Collembola: Isotomidae) characterized by cold-adapted, cryophilic species active in low-temperature environments. Members occur in diverse cold habitats including alpine glaciers, subnivean zones, and Antarctic ice-free areas. The genus is currently considered polyphyletic based on genetic analysis. Several species face elevated extinction risk due to climate change and habitat loss, particularly those restricted to shrinking glacial environments.
Desoria canadensis
Desoria canadensis is a species of springtail in the family Isotomidae, described by Brown in 1932. This small hexapod belongs to the class Collembola, a group of wingless arthropods commonly found in soil and leaf litter. The species occurs in Arctic, subarctic, and northern North American regions. As with most springtails, it likely plays a role in decomposition and nutrient cycling in soil ecosystems.
Desoria gelida
Desoria gelida is a species of springtail in the family Isotomidae, described by J.W. Folsom in 1937. The specific epithet 'gelida' suggests association with cold environments. It is known from limited observations in North America, particularly in Pacific and northern regions. As with other Desoria species, it belongs to a diverse genus of soil-dwelling collembolans.
Desoria hiemalis
Desoria hiemalis is a springtail species in the family Isotomidae, first described by Schött in 1893. It is a winter-active species, as indicated by its specific epithet "hiemalis" (Latin for "of winter"). The species has been recorded from both European and North American localities, including the Pacific Northwest region. It belongs to a diverse genus of soil-dwelling springtails commonly found in cold environments.