Parisotoma notabilis is the most common species of Collembola in Europe and is currently designated as ubiquist. This species has been extensively used in numerous studies and is considered as well characterized on a morphological ground. Despite the homogeneity of its morphology, the sequencing of the barcoding fragment (5′ end of COI) for several populations throughout Europe and North America revealed four distinct genetic lineages. The divergence found between these lineages was similar to the genetic distance among other species of the genus Parisotoma included in the analysis. All four lineages have been confirmed by the nuclear gene 28S. This congruence between mitochondrial and nuclear signals, as well as the geographical distribution pattern of lineages observed in Europe, supports the potential specific status of these lineages. Based on specimens from the type locality (Hamburg), the species name was successfully assigned to one of these lineages. This finding raises several problems as Parisotoma notabilis has been widely used in many ecological studies. Accumulation of new data for the different lineages detected, especially ecological information and life history traits, is needed to help resolve this situation.

No abstract

No abstract

Phylogeny of the Brachystomellidae (Collembola) -were the mandibles ancestrally absent and did they re-appear in this family? -Zoologica Scripta, 34, 305-312. A phylogenetic study was carried out on the family Brachystomellidae, which was found to be monophyletic. The genera Brachystomella and Folsomiella were polyphyletic. Folsomiella nothofagutalis was removed from Folsomiella and placed in Neorganella . The analysis showed that mandibles were ancestrally absent in this group and then re-appeared later in Probrachystomellides nicolaii .

Four species of the genus Friesea Dalla Torre, 1895 (Collembola, Neanuridae) are described from New Caledonia (Grande-Terre and Loyalty Islands) and Vanuatu (Santo Island). Friesea hnaeu n. sp. from Lifou Island in the Loyalties is characterized by two anal spines and the absence of eyes. Friesea wabao n. sp. from two islands of the Loyalties and Grande-Terre has a unique combination of characters: 1+1 or less eyes, a reduced furca, 3 anal spines and 7 s-chaetae on the fourth antennal segment. Friesea santo n. sp. from Santo Island in Vanuatu has 3 anal spines, no eyes and 6 s-chaetae on the fourth antennal segment. Friesea septem n. sp. from Santo Island is characterized by a reduced number of eyes (5-7+5-7 eyes), well-developed mucro, and 7 s-chaetae on the fourth antennal segment. Th e genus Friesea has the same number of species (3) on Grande-Terre, New Caledonia and on Loyalty Islands, with only one species shared. Two species of the mirabilis group, one in Vanuatu and one in New Caledonia, have 7 s-chaetae on the fourth antennal segment, a character unique in this group, suggesting biogeographical affi nities between these two regions.

No abstract

No abstract

Herein we describe two new species of Brazilian springtails, both from Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Brachystomella nordestina sp.n. resembles other Neotropical congeners with 8+8 eyes, postantennal organ with four lobes and 19/19/18 chaetae on tibiotarsi I–III, but it is unique in the combination of trilobed apical bulb, 2+2 dorsal chaetae on thorax I, male’s genital plate with 4+4 modified eugenital chaetae and 2+2 hr chaetae on lateral anal valves. Seira (Lepidocyrtinus) dapeste sp.n. is similar to other Neotropical species of Lepidocyrtinus Börner, 1903 in long antennae, mesonotum projected over head and presence of modified blunt macrochaetae on dorsal furca, but differs in the combination of dorsal head chaetotaxy, 14–19 a macrochaetae on thorax II, 7–9 central macrochaetae on thorax III and 4 central macrochaetae on abdomen II. We also present a detailed comparison and an updated key of the Neotropical species of Brachystomella Ågren, 1903.