The rove beetles are a family (Staphylinidae) of beetles, primarily distinguished by their short elytra that typically leave more than half of their abdominal segments exposed. With roughly 63,000 species in thousands of genera, the group is currently recognized as the largest extant family of organisms. It is an ancient group, with fossilized rove beetles known from the Triassic, 200 million years ago, and possibly even earlier if the genus Leehermania proves to be a member of this family. They are an ecologically and morphologically diverse group of beetles, and commonly encountered in terrestrial ecosystems.
Sminthurus viridis is a member of the Collembola, the springtails, an order in the subphylum Hexapoda. The species is known by common names such as clover springtail, lucerne flea, or lucerne earth flea.
Euophrys omnisuperstes, the Himalayan jumping spider, is a small and toxic jumping spider that lives at elevations of up to 6,700 m (22,000 ft) in the Himalayas, including Mount Everest, making it a candidate for the highest known permanent resident on Earth. They are found among rocky debris, feeding on tiny, stray springtails and flies.
Hypogastrura nivicola is a species of dark blue springtail. Its (US) English name is snow flea, but there are also insects called by that name. They are often seen jumping about on the surface of snow on a warm winter day in North America.
The furcula, or furca It is a forked, tail-like appendage. It is present in most species of springtails, and in them it is attached ventrally to the fourth abdominal segment. The organ most often is present in species of Collembola that lives in the upper soil layers where it is used for jumping to avoid predators. While at rest, it is retracted under the abdomen and held there by a structure variously called the retinaculum or hamula, which in turn is located beneath the third abdominal segment. When the furcula escapes from retinaculum, it swings downwards and hits the substrate, propelling the springtail into the air. The animal does not use this mechanism for ordinary locomotion, but only for escaping from predators or severe stress.
Springtails (Collembola) form the largest of the three lineages of modern hexapods that are no longer considered insects. Although the three orders are sometimes grouped together in a class called Entognatha because they have internal mouthparts, they do not appear to be any more closely related to one another than they are to all insects, which have external mouthparts.
Sminthuridae is a family of springtails of the order Symphypleona. Sminthurids are commonly referred to as globular springtails.
Allacma fusca is a species of springtail. This species is endemic to western areas of Continental Europe and the British Isles, where it lives in the surface layers of the soil in moist habitats such as among leaf litter.
Aackia is a genus of springtails in the family Isotomidae. It is a monotypic genus made up of a single species, Aackia karakoramensis. Both genus and species were described in 1966.
Isotomidae is a family of elongate-bodied springtails in the order Entomobryomorpha.
Neanuroidea is a superfamily of springtails in the order Poduromorpha. There are at least 3 families and more than 730 described species in Neanuroidea.
Hypogastruroidea is a superfamily of springtails in the order Poduromorpha. There are at least 2 families and more than 700 described species in Hypogastruroidea.
Pachytullbergiidae is a family of springtails in the order Poduromorpha. There are at least two genera and four described species in Pachytullbergiidae.
Onychiuroidea is a superfamily of springtails in the order Poduromorpha. There are about 5 families and more than 630 described species in Onychiuroidea.
Desoria is a genus of springtails.
Isotominae is a subfamily of elongate-bodied springtails in the family Isotomidae. There are about 15 genera and at least 100 described species in Isotominae.
Isotoma viridis is a species of elongate-bodied springtails in the family Isotomidae. It has a Holarctic distribution, often found in meadows and agricultural fields. The species feeds on fungal hyphae and decaying leaves.
Willowsia buski, the damp grain springtail, is a species of slender springtail in the family Entomobryidae. It is found in abundance throughout North America and Europe, and likely has a cosmopolitan distribution. It can sometimes be found infesting stores of dry goods that have become contaminated with high moisture, giving rise to the name "damp grain springtail".
Gulgastrura is a genus of springtails in the family Gulgastruridae. It is the sole genus of the family Gulgastruridae, and Gulgastrura reticulosa is its only species. It was discovered in 1966, in a limestone cave in Korea.
Paleotullbergia is a genus of springtails in the family Paleotullbergiidae, the sole genus of the family. Its only species is Paleotullbergia primigenia, found in Africa.
