Biology and key to theAustralian species ofHypogastruraandCeratophysella(Collembola:Hypogastruridae)

Abstract

AbstractThe familyHypogastruridae is represented by nine genera inAustralia, three of which:Mesogastrura Bonet,Hypogastrura Bourlet andCeratophysella Börner, consist only of species that have been probably introduced fromEurope within the last 250 years, with the exception of a new species described here. All species in these three genera are typical of, and abundant in, disturbed habitats. The 11 species currently recorded fromAustralia inHypogastruraandCeratophysellaareC. communis(Folsom, 1897),C. denticulata(Bagnall, 1941),C. gibbosa(Bagnall, 1940),C. succinea(Gisin, 1949),Hypogastrura assimilis(Krausbauer, 1898),H. distincta(Axelson, 1902),H. manubrialis(Tullberg, 1869),H. purpurescens(Lubbock, 1867,H. vernalis(Carl, 1901) andH. viatica(Tullberg, 1872), and a new speciesC. paucisetasp. nov.Ceratophysella communiswas misidentified in some published literature asC. engadinensis Gisin, 1949. AlthoughC. communisis confirmed as occurring inAustralia, there now seems to be no evidence thatC. engadinensisoccurs here, and the nameH. denticulatamay include more than one species. An illustrated dichotomous key and description is given here for all Australian species ofHypogastruraandCeratophysella, and their distributions and habitats documented. Their value as indicators of disturbed habitats inAustralia is discussed.Collembola in general have been shown to have a positive influence on nutrient cycling. It is not known what contributionHypogastruraandCeratophysellamake toAustralian arable and grazing systems in this respect, but it may be considerable because of their abundance.