Test-organism
Guides
Arrhopalites caecus
globular springtail
Arrhopalites caecus is a parthenogenetic globular springtail in the family Arrhopalitidae. It is one of the few springtail species characterized for standardized soil ecotoxicity testing, with established laboratory culture protocols. The species occupies diverse habitats ranging from cave systems to forest leaf litter and has a broad global distribution. Its sensitivity to neonicotinoid insecticides has been quantified, though it presents culturing challenges including susceptibility to mite infestation.
Proisotoma minuta
Proisotoma minuta is an elongate-bodied springtail in the family Isotomidae. It is found in Europe and has been recorded in agricultural land in Manitoba, Canada. This species is a fungivore and reproduces sexually. It is commonly used in ecotoxicological studies as a test organism for assessing soil contamination by heavy metals and volatile organic compounds.