Symphypleona
Guides
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.
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.
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.
Deuterosminthurus
Deuterosminthurus is a genus of springtails (Collembola: Symphypleona) in the family Bourletiellidae, established by Börner in 1901. The genus contains approximately 30 described species distributed across multiple continents including Europe, Asia, North America, and Australia. At least one species, Deuterosminthurus bicinctus, has been the subject of detailed behavioral studies documenting complex mating rituals. Some species are associated with specific host plants, including documented associations with Genista hispanica.
Deuterosminthurus bicinctus
Deuterosminthurus bicinctus is a springtail species in the family Bourletiellidae, first described by Koch in 1840. It is notable for its elaborate courtship and mating rituals involving spermatophore transfer, which have been studied in detail. Males perform a complex sequence of behaviors including a rhythmic head-to-head 'dance' to direct females to deposited spermatophores. The species has been recorded across Europe, the Mediterranean region, Macaronesia, and Australia.
Deuterosminthurus luridus
Deuterosminthurus luridus is a species of globular springtail in the family Bourletiellidae, described by Snider in 1978. It belongs to the order Symphypleona, which includes springtails with a rounded, globular body form. The genus Deuterosminthurus contains species characterized by specific morphological features of the mouthparts and body structure. Very little published information exists regarding the natural history of this particular species.
Deuterosminthurus pallipes
Deuterosminthurus pallipes is a species of springtail in the family Bourletiellidae, first described by Bourlet in 1843. It belongs to the order Symphypleona, characterized by a globular body form. The species has a broad distribution across Europe, Macaronesia, the Mediterranean region, northeastern Eurasia, and has been introduced to New Zealand.
Dicyrtoma aurata
globular springtail
Dicyrtoma aurata is a species of globular springtail in the family Dicyrtomidae, first described by H.B. Mills in 1934. Like other members of its family, it possesses the characteristic rounded body form typical of Symphypleona. The species has been documented in North America, with distribution records from the United States including Vermont and southern regions. As a springtail, it contributes to soil decomposition processes through its feeding activities.
Dicyrtoma flammea
Dicyrtoma flammea is a species of globular springtail in the family Dicyrtomidae, first described by E.A. Maynard in 1951. It belongs to the order Symphypleona, a group characterized by their rounded, globular body shape and spring-loaded furcula used for jumping. The species has been documented across North America with distribution records spanning northern, southern, and Pacific regions of the continent.
Dicyrtoma fusca
Dicyrtoma fusca is a species of globular springtail in the family Dicyrtomidae, distributed across the United States and Europe. The species exhibits variable coloration ranging from yellowish-red to dark red, with a distinctive pattern of two intersecting dorsal stripes forming a cross shape on the back. A lighter form (var. 1) and a darker subspecies (D. fusca var. rufescens) have been described, with the latter being predominantly European and characterized by yellowish eyes. The species possesses the characteristic pronged antennae typical of the genus Dicyrtoma.
springtailglobular-springtailCollembolaSymphypleonaDicyrtomidaeDicyrtomaDicyrtoma-fuscaDicyrtoma-fusca-var.-rufescensDicyrtoma-fusca-Var-1United-StatesEuropeAzoresArcticSub-arcticLubbock-1873pronged-antennaedorsal-stripescross-patternreddish-colorationyellowish-reddark-redvariable-colorationeye-colorationsubspeciescolor-variantDicyrtoma hageni
globular springtail
Dicyrtoma hageni is a species of globular springtail in the family Dicyrtomidae, order Symphypleona. First described by Folsom in 1896, this species belongs to a group of small, soft-bodied hexapods characterized by their rounded, globular body form and ability to jump using a furcula (springing organ) on the ventral abdomen. The species is part of the diverse Collembola fauna found across North America.
Dicyrtomina
globular springtails
Dicyrtomina is a genus of globular springtails (order Symphypleona) characterized by a rounded, compact body form distinct from elongate springtail lineages. Members exhibit latch-mediated spring-actuated (LaMSA) jumping powered by the furca, a modified fourth abdominal segment. The genus includes species such as D. minuta, which has been extensively studied for its extraordinary jumping kinematics, and D. saundersi, which displays neustonic (surface-floating) behavior. Species occur primarily in moist leaf litter habitats across Europe, North America, and other regions, with some populations adapted to aquatic surface microlayer environments.
Dicyrtomina minuta
Dicyrtomina minuta is a globular springtail distinguished by extraordinary jumping performance. Its furca-powered jumps achieve take-off velocities averaging 1 m/s with peak accelerations of 1938 m/s². All jumps involve rapid backwards body rotation at rates up to 368.7 Hz—the fastest rotational rates documented in any animal system. The species exhibits two distinct landing strategies: controlled collophore-anchoring for immediate arrest, or uncontrolled tumbling. Despite body lengths of only 1–2 mm, horizontal jumps reach 102 mm and vertical jumps 62 mm.
Heterosminthurus
Heterosminthurus is a genus of springtails (Collembola) in the family Bourletiellidae, established by Stach in 1955. The genus contains approximately 30 described species distributed across Europe, North America, and parts of Asia. Members of this genus are globular springtails, characteristic of the order Symphypleona. Species-level taxonomy has been revised multiple times, with many descriptions published by Bretfeld and Zöllner in 2000.
Janusius sylvestris
Janusius sylvestris is a globular springtail species in the family Sminthuridae, characterized by its rounded body form typical of the order Symphypleona. The species has been recorded across northern Eurasia and North America. As with other members of its family, it possesses a furcula (springing organ) for escape locomotion and exhibits the compact, spherical body shape that distinguishes symphypleonan springtails from the more elongate entomobryomorph forms.
Katianna
Katianna is a genus of globular springtails (Collembola: Symphypleona) with worldwide distribution. Members are distinguished by their minute size (approximately 1 mm), hairy antennae, and abundant setae covering the abdomen, particularly toward the posterior. The genus has been recorded across diverse regions including Europe, the Andes, Central Australia, the Caribbean, and Antarctica. A putative undescribed species from the Pacific Northwest, informally designated "Katianna species 10" or "Mtn Dew Katianna," was first documented in 2016 and rediscovered in 2024.
Katiannidae
Katiannidae is a family of globular springtails (order Symphypleona) characterized by their rounded body form and compact antennae. The family contains approximately 20 genera, including the well-known Sminthurinus and Vesicephalus. Members of this family are distributed across diverse biomes worldwide, from tropical forests to polar regions. The family was established by Börner in 1913 and represents a significant lineage within the Katiannoidea superfamily.
Katiannina
Katiannina is a genus of globular springtails in the family Katiannidae, order Symphypleona. Members of this genus are small, soil-dwelling hexapods characterized by their rounded, compact body form. The genus was established in 1951 and is distributed across North America and parts of East Asia. Katiannina species inhabit leaf litter and soil microhabitats where they contribute to decomposition processes.
Mesentotoma near-dollfusi
Mesentotoma near-dollfusi is a species of globular springtail in the family Sminthuridae. It belongs to a genus of small, soft-bodied hexapods characterized by a compact, rounded body form. Records indicate this species occurs in the Near East region, with documented presence in Iran. The specific epithet "near-dollfusi" suggests morphological similarity to M. dollfusi, a related species described from the Mediterranean region.
Neokatianna acantholaema
Neokatianna acantholaema is a species of globular springtail in the family Katiannidae, described by R.J. Snider in 1989. It belongs to the order Symphypleona, characterized by a rounded, globular body form. The species is known from southern North America and has been documented through 34 iNaturalist observations. As with other members of Katiannidae, it likely inhabits soil and leaf litter environments, though specific ecological details remain limited.
Neosminthurus
Neosminthurus is a genus of globular springtails in the family Sminthuridae, first described by H.B. Mills in 1934. The genus is distributed in Central and North America and contains at least three described species: N. bakeri, N. clavatus, and N. richardsi. Members of this genus belong to the order Symphypleona, characterized by a globular body form. The genus is distinguished from related genera by specific morphological features of the antennae and body chaetotaxy.
Neosminthurus richardsi
Neosminthurus richardsi is a species of globular springtail described by Snider in 1978. It belongs to the family Sminthuridae, a group of Collembola characterized by their rounded, compact body form. The species is part of the order Symphypleona, which contains springtails with a globular shape and fused abdominal segments. Like other members of its family, it possesses a furcula (springing organ) used for escape locomotion.
Polykatianna
Polykatianna is a genus of globular springtails in the family Katiannidae, characterized by their rounded body form typical of the Symphypleona. The genus was established by J.T. Salmon in 1946 and contains species distributed across widely separated regions including Australia, Antarctica and subantarctic islands, the Caribbean, and East Africa. Members of this genus inhabit diverse terrestrial environments from arid central Australian landscapes to cold subantarctic ecosystems.
Prorastriopes
Prorastriopes is a genus of globular springtails in the family Bourletiellidae, established in 1947. These Collembola are characterized by their rounded, compact body form typical of the Symphypleona order. The genus has been recorded across diverse tropical and subtropical regions including Africa, the Caribbean, and Florida.
Ptenothrix atra
Ptenothrix atra is a species of globular springtail in the family Dicyrtomidae. It is one of the oldest described springtail species, originally described by Linnaeus in 1758. The species has a broad distribution spanning Europe, the Mediterranean, North America, and Caribbean regions. As a member of the Symphypleona, it possesses a characteristic globular body form distinct from the more elongate Entomobryomorpha springtails.
Ptenothrix beta
springtail
Ptenothrix beta is a species of globular springtail (Collembola: Symphypleona) first described in 1981. It exhibits exceptional morphological variability across its range in the northwestern United States. The species was historically confused with Ptenothrix maculosa and Ptenothrix delongi until citizen scientist observations in early 2025 clarified diagnostic characters, particularly antennal morphology.
Ptenothrix californica
Ptenothrix californica is a species of globular springtail in the family Dicyrtomidae. It is native to the Pacific North American region, particularly California. The species was described by Christiansen and Bellinger in 1981. As a member of the Symphypleona, it possesses a rounded, globular body form characteristic of this order of Collembola. It is documented in museum collections and has been recorded in citizen science observations.
Ptenothrix flavescens
Ptenothrix flavescens is a species of globular springtail in the family Dicyrtomidae, first described by Axelson in 1905. It belongs to the order Symphypleona, characterized by their rounded, globular body form. The species is known from Europe, though specific ecological details remain limited in available literature.
Ptenothrix palmata
Ptenothrix palmata is a species of globular springtail in the family Dicyrtomidae, first described by Folsom in 1902. As a member of the order Symphypleona, it possesses the rounded, globular body form characteristic of this group. The species has been documented from Arctic, subarctic, and northern North American regions, including Pacific North America. Like other dicyrtomids, it inhabits moist microhabitats in forest floor environments.
Pygmarrhopalites
A genus of springtails (Collembola: Symphypleona) in the family Arrhopalitidae. The genus was established by Vargovitsh in 2009. Multiple species have been described, including both epigean and troglobiont (cave-dwelling) forms. Some species exhibit troglomorphies including reduced pigmentation, elongated appendages, and modified foot complex.
Pygmarrhopalites bellingeri
Pygmarrhopalites bellingeri is a species of globular springtail in the family Arrhopalitidae, first described by Kenneth Christiansen in 1966. It belongs to the order Symphypleona, characterized by a rounded, globular body form. The species has been documented from both Caribbean and North American mainland localities. Like other members of its family, it is likely associated with moist microhabitats in forested environments.
Sminthurides aquaticus
Sminthurides aquaticus is a species of springtail (Collembola) in the family Sminthurididae, characterized by its globular body form typical of the order Symphypleona. The species epithet 'aquaticus' suggests an association with wet or aquatic environments. As a member of the Sminthurididae, it belongs to a family known for small, often colorful springtails with reduced mouthparts. The species has been recorded across multiple biogeographic regions including the Arctic, Europe, the Mediterranean, and parts of North and South America.
Sminthurides bifidus
Sminthurides bifidus is a globular springtail in the family Sminthurididae, first described by H.B. Mills in 1934. Like other members of its genus, it possesses the characteristic globular body form typical of the order Symphypleona. The species has been recorded across multiple continents including Europe, North America, and the Caribbean region. It is one of approximately 109 observed species of Sminthurides documented on iNaturalist.
Sminthurides plicatus
Sminthurides plicatus is a species of globular springtail in the family Sminthurididae, first described by H. Schött in 1891. It belongs to the order Symphypleona, characterized by a rounded body shape distinct from elongate springtails. The species has been recorded in Caribbean and Pacific North American regions. As with other Sminthurides species, it is a small, soil-dwelling microarthropod.
Sminthurides weichseli
Sminthurides weichseli is a species of globular springtail described in 1981 from North America. As a member of the family Sminthurididae, it possesses the characteristic globular body form and furcula (springing organ) typical of the order Symphypleona. The species is known from limited observations and appears to have a distribution across northern and southern North America.
Sminthurinae
Sminthurinae is a subfamily of globular springtails (Collembola: Symphypleona) characterized by a rounded body form and well-developed furcula. Members possess the subfamily-defining trait of interocular vesicles—paired sensory structures with demonstrated photoreception function. The subfamily includes the genus Vesicephalus, which exhibits extreme habitat restriction possibly linked to this light-sensitive adaptation. Sminthurinae represents one of the major lineages within the Sminthuridae family.
Sminthurinus atrapallidus
Sminthurinus atrapallidus is a globular springtail species in the family Katiannidae, first described by Snider in 1978. It belongs to the order Symphypleona, characterized by a compact, rounded body form. The species is known from southern North America and has been documented in citizen science observations.
Sminthurinus henshawi
Henshaw's globular springtail
Sminthurinus henshawi is a species of globular springtail in the family Katiannidae. It is a small, soil-dwelling hexapod with a characteristic rounded body shape. The species has been recorded across multiple continents including North America and Eurasia. It is one of the more frequently observed springtail species, with over 1,400 citizen science records.
Sminthurinus latimaculosus
Sminthurinus latimaculosus is a globular springtail species described by E.A. Maynard in 1951. As a member of the family Katiannidae, it belongs to the order Symphypleona, which is characterized by a rounded, globular body form. The species has been recorded from North America and the Caribbean region. Like other springtails, it possesses a furcula (springing organ) for locomotion.
Sminthurinus minutus
Sminthurinus minutus is a species of globular springtail in the family Katiannidae. It is a small, soil-dwelling hexapod that belongs to the order Symphypleona, characterized by a rounded body form distinct from the elongated shape of other springtail orders. The species was first described by MacGillivray in 1894. As a member of Collembola, it possesses a furcula (springing organ) for escape locomotion, though this feature is reduced in some globular springtails.
Sminthurinus quadrimaculatus
globular springtail
Sminthurinus quadrimaculatus is a species of globular springtail in the family Katiannidae, described by Ryder in 1878. It is characterized by its compact, rounded body form typical of the Symphypleona order. The species has been recorded from multiple geographic regions including the Caribbean mainland, Hawaiian Islands, and the Azores (Santa Maria and Terceira). Two subspecies are recognized: Sminthurinus quadrimaculatus quadrimaculatus and Sminthurinus quadrimaculatus bimaculatus Maynard.
Sminthurus carolinensis
A species of globular springtail in the family Sminthuridae, described from the Carolinas region of the southeastern United States. As a member of the order Symphypleona, it possesses a characteristic rounded, globular body form distinct from the elongate-bodied Entomobryomorpha. The species was formally described by R.J. Snider in 1981.
Sminthurus eisenii
A globular springtail in the family Sminthuridae, first described from California in 1891. Belongs to the order Symphypleona, characterized by a rounded body form and reduced or absent furcula in some species. Part of a genus containing several agricultural pest species, though specific pest status for this species is undocumented.