Taxonomic insight on some newly recorded species of the springtails (Hexapoda: Collembola) from North Eastern and Eastern states of India

Abstract

Six Collembola species from five families and two orders are for the first time recorded from India. All the described new records are mainly from two states, West Bengal and Arunachal Pradesh and collected from the surveys conducted in the Eastern Himalayan Region. Sphyrotheca multifasciata (Reuter, 1881) (Sminthuridae), Sminthurinus bimaculatus Axelson, 1902 (Katiannidae), Dicranocentrus nepalensis Mari Mutt & Bhattacharjee, 1980 (Orchesellidae), Isotomurus plumosus Bagnall, 1940 (Isotomidae), Isotomurus pseudopalustris Carapelli, Frati, Fanciulli & Dallai, 2001, (Isotomidae), Willowsia jacobsoni (Börner, 1913) (Entomobryidae), are the Collembola species whose occurrence is first time observed in India. As a result of the present work Collembola fauna of India reached up to 348 species. Material examined, a brief description and microscopic images of the new records are provided in the present study.

Keywords

• springtails
• soil micro-arthropods
• new record
• biodiversity
• taxonomy