http://www.collembola.org/key/fkfr.htm - Last updated on 2024.08.31 by Frans Janssens
Checklist of the Collembola: Pictorial key to common surface dwelling families of Collembola from France

This key is still under construction. Note that missing figures will be provided as soon as possible. Currently, the key is in the feasibility study phase to find out how to integrate in the checklist in a modular way a key that has been generated with DELTA.

Frans Janssens, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, B-2020, Belgium
Philippe Lebeaux France

Preamble

This experimental, simplified and macrophotographically illustrated key is intended to key out up to family level the most common surface dwelling Collembola from France, based on habitus inspection of alive specimens in the field using at most a magnification of 5 times.

All illustrations courtesy of macrophotographer Philippe Lebeaux.

Rationale

The rationale for taxa used and not used as well as subtaxonomic classification for some taxa is to be provided.

Key

Note that no distinction between subtaxa and taxa is made in the key.

    
1(0).   Body shape elongate (fig.1a)................................ 2
        Body shape subglobular (fig.1b)............................. 9

Fig.1.
   
2(1).   Antennae longer than head; first thoracic tergite absent
          (fig.2b); legs long; trunk segmentation outline smooth
          (fig.2b).................................................. 3
        Antennae shorter than head; first thoracic tergite present
          (fig.2a); legs short; trunk segmentation outline bumpy
          (fig.2a).................................................. 6

Fig.2.
   
3(2).   Third antennal segment distinctly longer than other antennal
          segments (fig.3)................................ Tomoceridae
        Third antennal segment not distinctly longer than other
          antennal segments......................................... 4

Fig.3.
   
4(3).   Eyes absent (fig.4)............................. Cyphoderinae
        Eyes present................................................ 5

Fig.4.
   
5(4).   Fourth abdominal segment as long as third abdominal segment
          (fig.5)......................................... Isotomidae
        Fourth abdominal segment longer than third abdominal segment
          (fig.6)...................................... Entomobryidae

Fig.5.
  

Fig.6.
   
6(2).   Sixth abdominal segment bilobed (fig.7)............ Neanurinae
        Sixth abdominal segment monolobed........................... 7

Fig.7.
   
7(6).   Sixth abdominal segment in dorsal aspect pointed............ 8
        Sixth abdominal segment in dorsal aspect rounded (fig.8)......
           ................................................. Poduridae

Fig.8.
   
8(7).   Eyes absent; body pigment absent (fig.9)......... Onychiuridae
        Eyes present; body pigment present (fig.10).... Hypogastruridae

Fig.9.
  

Fig.10.
   
9(1).   Eyes not reduced........................................... 10
        Eyes reduced (fig.11).......................... Arrhopalitidae

Fig.11.
   
10(9).  Fourth antennal segment distinctly shorter than third antennal
          segment (fig.12)................................ Dicyrtomidae
        Fourth antennal segment longer than third antennal segment. 11

Fig.12.
   
11(10). Trunk dorsally with many macrosetae (fig.13)...... Sminthuridae
        Trunk without distinct macrosetae.......................... 12

Fig.13.
   
12(11). Male with modified clasping antennae (fig.14).. Sminthurididae
        Male with unmodified antennae.............................. 13

Fig.14.
   
13(12). Fourth antennal segment not subdivided (fig.15)... Katiannidae
        Fourth antennal segment subdivided (fig.16)... Bourletiellidae

Fig.15.
  

Fig.16.
  

References