Collembola
Guides
Vertagopus pseudocinereus
Vertagopus pseudocinereus is a species of elongate springtail in the family Isotomidae, described from Arctic and northern temperate regions. It belongs to the order Entomobryomorpha, characterized by relatively long antennae and a slender body form compared to the more compact Poduromorpha. The species has been recorded across circumpolar and northern montane regions.
Vesicephalus occidentalis
globular springtail
Vesicephalus occidentalis is a species of globular springtail in the family Katiannidae. It belongs to the order Symphypleona, characterized by a rounded, globular body form. The species was described by H.B. Mills in 1935. As a springtail, it possesses a furcula (springing organ) that enables leaping locomotion. The species is part of the diverse community of soil-dwelling microarthropods.
Vitronura giselae
Vitronura giselae is a species of springtail in the family Neanuridae, originally described as Neanura giselae by Gisin in 1950. It belongs to the tribe Paleonurini and is one of several species in the genus Vitronura. The species has been recorded across multiple continents including Europe, Southeast Asia, East Africa, the Caribbean, and Hawaii, indicating either a wide natural distribution or human-mediated dispersal. As an entognathous hexapod, it lacks external mouthparts and possesses the reduced body plan characteristic of neanurid springtails.
Willemia
Willemia is a genus of springtails (Collembola) in the family Hypogastruridae comprising at least 40 described species. Species occupy diverse habitats including sandy substrates (psammophily) and loam soils, with some inhabiting harsh environments such as polar regions, high mountains, and deserts. Phylogenetic studies indicate that psammophily is ancestral in this genus and has been lost twice independently, demonstrating that habitat specialization can be evolutionarily reversible. Species utilizing harsh environments tend to have low clade ranks and are concentrated on former Laurasian continents.
Willemia denisi
Willemia denisi is a species of springtail (Collembola) in the family Hypogastruridae, first described by H.B. Mills in 1932. It belongs to the order Poduromorpha, a group characterized by a cylindrical body form and reduced furcula. The genus Willemia contains multiple species distributed across various habitats, though specific biological details for W. denisi remain poorly documented in the available literature.
Willowsia
Willowsia is a genus of slender springtails in the family Entomobryidae, containing approximately six described species. The genus exhibits a pantropical to cosmopolitan distribution, with notable diversity in Asia and multiple species present in the Americas. Some species, particularly W. nigromaculata, are among the most abundant and widely distributed springtails in the northern hemisphere. Phylogenetic studies indicate that Willowsia is polyphyletic, with some species showing closer relationships to other entomobryine taxa. The genus includes both native New World endemics and potentially introduced populations.
Willowsia buski
damp grain springtail
Willowsia buski is a medium-sized springtail, averaging 1-2 mm in length, with a smooth, dark-purple to black body and a lighter-colored head. It is found in abundance throughout North America and Europe, with likely cosmopolitan distribution. The species is known to infest stored dry goods, particularly grain, when moisture levels are elevated. It belongs to the family Entomobryidae, characterized by four roughly equal antennal segments.
Willowsia neonigromaculata
Willowsia neonigromaculata is a cryptic springtail species described in 2021 from the United States. It was previously confused with the European species W. nigromaculata due to morphological similarity. Genetic and morphological analysis revealed it as distinct, with diagnostic characters including the number of inner appendages on the maxillary sublobal plate. The species belongs to the family Entomobryidae, one of the most diverse families of Collembola.
Willowsia platani
slender springtail
Willowsia platani is a species of slender springtail in the family Entomobryidae. First described by Nicolet in 1842, this small hexapod is characterized by its elongated, slender body form typical of the genus. The species is known from Europe and has been recorded across multiple continents including Asia. As a member of Collembola, it lacks wings and possesses the characteristic furcula (springing organ) that gives springtails their common name.
Willowsiinae
Willowsiinae is a subfamily of springtails (Collembola) in the family Entomobryidae, established by Yoshii and Suhardjono in 1989. These elongate-bodied springtails are distinguished by specific chaetotaxy patterns and antennal segment proportions. The subfamily includes several genera found across diverse habitats, though detailed biological studies remain limited for many constituent taxa.
Xenylla grisea
Xenylla grisea is a species of springtail (Collembola) in the family Hypogastruridae, first described by Axelson in 1900. It is a small, soil-dwelling hexapod found across multiple geographic regions including the Azores, Andean regions, the Caribbean, and Atlantic islands. Laboratory studies have documented its reproductive biology and developmental timing under controlled conditions.