Cedar Creek
Natural History Area
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Insects of Cedar Creek
Order COLLEMBOLA
(Springtails)
The Springtails (675 NA spp) are a primitive group of
insects that are primarily soil inhabiting detritivores. Although
having six legs, they lack malphigian tubules and tracheae which prompt
some authorities to place them in a Class apart from the Insecta.
Their common name of Springtails derives from a peculiar hinged mechanism
(furcula) on the underside of the abdomen which when released allows them
to 'spring' some distance. Collembola are most readily collected
by Berlese funnel extraction from litter/humus, D-vaccing, or searching
under boards placed in fields or woods.
Michigan which is rather well collected reports
132 species, and it is reasonable to assume that a similar number of species
occurs in Minnesota. Limited attention has been given to the Springtails
of CCNHA. Perhaps 10 species have been collected, but they have been
assigned only MORPHO names. It is likely that more than 50 species
occur here, but their collection will require the attention of a specialist.
Most have been taken by D-vaccing in experimental grassland plots, and
they have occasionally been colleced in old field sweeps. The Snowflea,
Hypogastrura
nivicola, is abundant during sprig thaws, when literally millions
of individuals collect in snow depressions and puddles floating atop the
water like so much graphite.
Seven families occur in North America, and all are
likely to by found in Minnesota. Families in Bold type have been
collected at Cedar Creek. The Poduridae, Hypogastruridae,
and Onychiuridae have setae on the dorsum of the first thoracic segment.
The Entomobryidae and Isotomidae lack such setae and are
elongate bodied. The Neelidae and Sminthuridae are globular
in form. Some Morpho species are
imaged here.
Snider, Richard J. (1967). An annotated list of the Collembola
(Springtails) of Michigan. Michigan Entomologist 1: 179-234
(includes key to species,
slide mounted specimens required)
| 1. |
Family PODURIDAE |
Water Springtails |
(Not described at CCNHA) |
| 2. |
Family HYPOGASTRURIDAE |
Elongate-bodied Springtails |
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| 3. |
Family ONYCHIURIDAE |
Blind Springtails |
(Not described at CCNHA) |
| 4. |
Family ISOTOMIDAE |
Smooth Springtails |
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| 5. |
Family ENTOMOBRYIDAE |
Slender Springtails |
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| 6. |
Family NEELIDAE |
Short-horned Springtails |
(Not described at CCNHA) |
| 7. |
Family SMINTHURIDAE |
Globular Springtails |
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