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.
Hypogastrura nivicola is a species of dark blue springtail. Its English name in the United States is snow flea, but there are also additional insects called by that name. They are often seen jumping about on the surface of snow on a warm winter's day in North America.
The furcula, or furca 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.
Isotoma is a common genus of springtails, the type genus of the family Isotomidae, containing the following species:
Springtails 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, not to be confounded with: Sminthurididae, 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.
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.
Morulininae is a subfamily of springtails in the family Neanuridae. There are at least 2 genera and about 11 described species in Morulininae.
Desoria is a genus of springtails.
Isotominae is a subfamily of elongate-bodied springtails in the family Isotomidae. There are about 16 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.
Neelidae is a family of springtails in the order Neelipleona. There are at least 4 genera and more than 30 described species in Neelidae.
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.
Desoria klovstadi is a species of springtails, native to Antarctica. It was one of the first Antarctic species, from the class of collemba, to be described.
