Litter-dwelling

Guides

Anillinus folkertsi
Anillinus folkertsi is a small ground beetle in the tribe Anillini (Carabidae), described from Alabama in 2004. Species in this genus are typically minute, eyeless or with reduced eyes, and adapted to life in soil and leaf litter habitats. The genus Anillinus is part of a diverse radiation of anilline ground beetles in eastern North America.
ground-beetle Carabidae Anillini litter-dwelling endogean Alabama-endemic eyeless-beetle soil-fauna
Anillinus folkertsioides
Anillinus folkertsioides is a small ground beetle species described in 2020 from Jackson County, Alabama. It is a litter-dwelling species, distinguishing it from the sympatric cave-dwelling Anillinus clinei found in the same county. The species belongs to the tribe Anillini, a group of minute carabid beetles often associated with subterranean or forest floor habitats. Its discovery brought the known Anillinus fauna of Alabama to twelve species.
ground-beetle litter-dwelling endemic Alabama new-species-2020
Cephennium gallicum
Cephennium gallicum is a minute rove beetle in the subfamily Scydmaeninae, native to Europe and first recorded in North America in 2004 from Point Pleasant Park, Halifax, Nova Scotia. The species is believed to have been introduced via shipping activity at the port of Halifax. It represents one of several documented cases of Palearctic Coleoptera establishing populations in North American port cities.
invasive port-introduction litter-dwelling minute-beetle
Clambus howdeni
Clambus howdeni is a minute beetle species in the family Clambidae, first described by Endrödy-Younga in 1981. The species occurs in eastern North America, with confirmed records from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Ontario in Canada. Like other members of the genus Clambus, it is among the smallest beetles, typically measuring only 1–2 mm in length. The species name honors Henry F. Howden, a prominent Canadian coleopterist.
minute-beetle litter-dwelling cryptic decomposer North-America 1981-description
Dryotribini
Dryotribini is a tribe of weevils within the subfamily Cossoninae of the family Curculionidae. The tribe contains approximately 60 described genera distributed across multiple continents. Members of this tribe are generally small, cryptic weevils associated with dead or decaying plant material. The group has been documented in both temperate and tropical regions, with notable diversity in the Pacific islands and New Zealand.
weevils Cossoninae Curculionidae saproxylic cryptic litter-dwelling
Holotrochus
Holotrochus is a genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Osoriinae, established by Erichson in 1839. Members of this genus are small to minute beetles characterized by reduced or absent eyes, a trait common among Osoriinae that inhabit soil and leaf litter environments. The genus is distinguished within Osoriini by particular arrangements of pronotal and elytral setae and specific configurations of the mouthparts. Species are found in various regions but detailed biological information remains limited for most taxa.
rove-beetle soil-fauna Staphylinidae Osoriinae decomposer litter-dwelling
Marpissa lineata
Four-lined Slender Jumping Spider
Marpissa lineata is a small jumping spider in the family Salticidae, commonly known as the Four-lined Slender Jumping Spider. It is distinguished by distinctive banded markings on the abdomen and legs that give the species its name. Females are larger than males, measuring 3.50–5.20 mm versus 3.00–4.00 mm. The species is widely distributed across the eastern half of North America, where it inhabits leaf litter in forest, shrub, and prairie grass communities.
spider jumping-spider Salticidae North-America litter-dwelling forest-fauna prairie-fauna
Nemastoma
harvestman
Nemastoma is a genus of small harvestmen (Opiliones) in the family Nemastomatidae, first described by C.L. Koch in 1836. Species in this genus are litter-dwelling arachnids found primarily in Eurasia, with some introduced populations in North America. The genus includes species complexes with notable morphological diversity, such as the N. bidentatum complex, which exhibits extensive subspecific differentiation and parapatric distribution patterns in Slovenia. Several species have been documented as introduced to North America, including N. bimaculatum, which has established populations in Canada.
arachnid harvestman litter-dwelling Eurasian introduced-species cryptic-diversity speciation-complex
Oreoneta
A genus of dwarf spiders (family Linyphiidae) established in 1894, comprising approximately 30 species distributed across cold-temperate and Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Most species inhabit high-latitude or high-altitude environments. The genus was revised extensively by Saaristo & Marusik in 2004, resulting in numerous new species descriptions.
Arachnida Araneae Linyphiidae dwarf-spider Arctic boreal Holarctic tundra montane predator cold-adapted ground-dwelling high-latitude high-altitude Saaristo Marusik Chyzer Kulczyński 1894 2004-revision genitalic-characters epigynum embolus conductor palaearctic nearctic Eurasia North-America Scandinavia Siberia Alaska Canada Greenland Kazakhstan Mongolia China Kurile-Islands Finland Sweden Norway Germany Switzerland Italy Slovakia Bulgaria Central-Europe type-species:-Oreoneta-frigida thirty-species 30-species small-spider sheet-web-weaver money-spider Linyphiinae Erigoninae microhabitat litter-dwelling cryptic understudied taxonomic-revision morphological-taxonomy light-microscopy species-description biogeography glacial-refugia post-glacial-colonization endemic regional-endemic alpine-endemic Arctic-endemic boreal-forest taiga rocky-habitat meadow wetland stream-margin snowbed fellfield heath moss lichen vegetation soil-surface stone rock boulder scree talus debris humus organic-layer permafrost polar subpolar cold-stenotherm stenotherm stenotopic habitat-specialist conservation rare data-deficient IUCN red-list natural-history systematics phylogeny molecular-systematics DNA-barcoding COI cytochrome-oxidase 28S 18S ITS morphology taxonomy alpha-taxonomy revision monograph faunistics chorology zoogeography dispersal vicariance speciation cryptic-species species-complex species-group species-aggregate subspecies infraspecific variation polymorphism sexual-dimorphism male female juvenile instar ecdysis molting development growth reproduction mating courtship sperm-transfer spermatophore pedipalp palpal-organ copulatory-organ genitalia epigyne vulva spermatheca fertilization-duct copulatory-duct atrium scape maceration dissection microscope stereomicroscope compound-microscope illustration drawing photography SEM scanning-electron-microscopy habitus dorsal ventral lateral prosoma opisthosoma abdomen cephalothorax carapace sternum chelicera fang leg tarsus metatarsus tibia patella femur coxa trochanter spinneret colulus tracheal-spiracle book-lung cuticle seta hair spine macroseta sensillum chaetotaxy eye oculus ocelli anterior-median-eye posterior-median-eye anterior-lateral-eye posterior-lateral-eye eye-tubercle clypeus fovea pedicel waist constriction color pattern pigmentation melanism albinism size measurement total-length carapace-length carapace-width abdomen-length leg-length leg-formula index ratio proportion allometry ontogeny subadult adult maturity sexual-maturity reproductive-maturity longevity life-span generation-time voltinism univoltine semivoltine biennial perennial overwintering diapause quiescence cold-hardiness freeze-tolerance freeze-avoidance supercooling cryoprotectant glycerol sorbitol trehalose thermal-biology thermoregulation behavioral-thermoregulation postural-thermoregulation activity diurnal nocturnal crepuscular matutinal vespertine circadian rhythm seasonal phenology calendar date month activity-period breeding-season oviposition egg egg-sac cocoon silk web sheet-web tangle-web space-web platform-web dome-web bowl-web funnel retreat signal-line dragline attachment-disc ampullate-gland cylindriform-gland aciniform-gland aggregate-gland flagelliform-gland tubuliform-gland piriform-gland major-ampullate minor-ampullate silk-protein spidroin fibroin sericin glue viscid dry capture-silk dragline-silk safety-line anchor-line frame-line radial-line spiral-line sticky-spiral non-sticky-spiral hub perimeter substrate niche guild functional-group trophic-level carnivore zoophage arthropodivore insectivore prey capture attack subdue immobilize kill feed digest extraoral-digestion sucking-stomach gut midgut hindgut Malpighian-tubule excretion osmoregulation metabolism respiration trachea spiracle gas-exchange circulation hemolymph heart aorta sinus nervous-system brain ganglion nerve sensory-organ mechanoreceptor chemoreceptor thermoreceptor hygroreceptor photoreceptor proprioceptor trichobothrium tarsal-organ slit-sensillum lyriform-organ pedipalp-organ Haller's-organ contact-chemoreceptor gustatory olfactory pheromone semiochemical kairomone allomone synomone communication signal vibration seismic airborne visual chemical tactile copulation insemination sperm spermatozoon median-apophysis terminal-apophysis paracymbium cymbium bulbus tegulum subtegulum radix lamella process apophysis flange hook coil spiral duct reservoir sclerite plate field fossa pocket receptaculum spermathecae gland insemination-duct uterus uterus-externus uterus-internus vagina gonopore ovipositor ovary oviduct follicle vitellogenesis oogenesis spermatogenesis testis vas-deferens ejaculatory-duct seminal-vesicle fecundity fertility clutch-size egg-number hatching emergence ballooning aerial-dispersal silk-dragline gossamer migration movement walking running jumping climbing burrowing hiding refuge shelter defense predation predator-avoidance antipredator crypsis camouflage mimicry aposematism deimatic thanatosis autotomy leg-loss regeneration injury wound healing immune-response hemocyte melanization encapsulation nodule parasite parasitoid pathogen fungus bacterium virus nematode mite grooming cleaning hygiene self-maintenance silk-use web-use prey-capture foraging hunting ambush sit-and-wait active-hunting searching probing testing exploration learning memory cognition behavior ethology ecology population community ecosystem biome biosphere habitat environment abiotic biotic factor temperature humidity moisture precipitation rain snow wind light photoperiod day-length radiation UV soil cover complexity heterogeneity productivity energy nutrient carbon nitrogen phosphorus food-web trophic-interaction predator-prey competition intraspecific interspecific resource partitioning coexistence diversity richness evenness abundance density frequency occurrence presence absence detection sampling collection pitfall-trap quadrat transect hand-collecting beating sifting extraction Berlese Tullgren Winkler flotation sorting preservation ethanol formalin mount slide label catalog database repository museum voucher type holotype paratype syntype lectotype paralectotype neotype topotype original data locality georeference coordinate latitude longitude elevation altitude depth collector determination identification expert specialist literature publication journal article paper book thesis dissertation report checklist online digital archive bibliography reference citation author year volume page figure map table appendix supplementary material methods results discussion conclusion abstract keyword index-term subject topic discipline science biology zoology arachnology entomology evolution phylogenetics biological nature protection management policy legislation restoration monitoring assessment indicator flagship umbrella keystone engineer service function dynamics stability resilience resistance recovery succession disturbance climate change warming glacier range shift expansion contraction fragmentation isolation connectivity corridor network reserve park protected area wilderness urban rural agricultural forestry mining impact threat risk vulnerability sensitivity exposure adaptive capacity mitigation adaptation sustainable use harvest trade economy medicine research education outreach citizen engagement awareness appreciation aesthetic cultural spiritual existence value intrinsic instrumental utilitarian anthropocentric biocentric ecocentric ethic philosophy history discovery expedition voyage survey inventory fauna biota biodiversity life earth planet wildlife animal invertebrate arthropod chelicerate arachnid spider araneomorph entelegyne micryphantid Oreoneta 2004 frigida type-species alpine feeding type-specimen climate-change protected-area
Orthomorpha coarctata
Long-flange Millipede
Orthomorpha coarctata is a widely introduced millipede species in the family Paradoxosomatidae, commonly known as the long-flange millipede. Presumed native to Southeast Asia, it has established populations in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide through human-mediated transport. The species is notable for its distinctive elongated paranota (lateral keels) and unique male gonopod morphology. Some taxonomists have placed it in the monotypic genus Asiomorpha based on these reproductive structures.
millipede introduced-species litter-dwelling detritivore
Pacificanthia consors (LeConte, 1851)
brown leatherwing beetle
Pacificanthia consors, commonly known as the brown leatherwing beetle, is a soldier beetle (family Cantharidae) native to western North America. Adults are active in spring, particularly April and May, and are associated with plant litter habitats. The species exhibits predatory habits in both adult and larval stages.
soldier-beetle predatory litter-dwelling spring-active western-North-America
Prolibia rufescens
Prolibia rufescens is a species of rove beetle (Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Osoriinae, described by Hatch in 1957. It is a small beetle with documented occurrences in western North America. The specific epithet "rufescens" refers to a reddish coloration. As a member of the Osoriinae, it belongs to a group of litter-dwelling rove beetles typically found in moist, decomposing organic matter.
rove-beetle Staphylinidae Osoriinae North-America western-North-America litter-dwelling
Stygnommatidae
Stygnommatid Harvestmen
Stygnommatidae is a small family of harvestmen (Opiliones) in the infraorder Grassatores, containing approximately thirty described species. These arachnids are characterized by their compact body form, enlarged and armed pedipalps, and relatively short legs. They are primarily litter-dwelling inhabitants of Neotropical forests, with some species adapted to cave environments. The family's monophyly remains disputed among arachnologists.
harvestman litter-dwelling cave-dwelling neotropical grassatores
Symphylella
Symphylella is a genus of symphylans in the family Scolopendrellidae, comprising approximately 49 cosmopolitan species of minute soil-dwelling arthropods. These myriapods inhabit soil and litter layers of broad-leaf and bamboo forests, where they are extracted using Berlese-Tullgren funnels. The genus is characterized by diagnostic morphological features including chaetotaxy patterns on the frons and tergites, with recent taxonomic work identifying two morphological groups based on inserted setae patterns on tergal processes.
symphylan soil-arthropod myriapod litter-dwelling cryptic-fauna