Biology and key to the<scp>A</scp>ustralian species of<i><scp>H</scp>ypogastrura</i>and<i><scp>C</scp>eratophysella</i>(<scp>C</scp>ollembola:<scp>H</scp>ypogastruridae)

Abstract

Abstract The family H ypogastruridae is represented by nine genera in A ustralia, three of which: M esogastrura B onet, H ypogastrura B ourlet and C eratophysella B örner, consist only of species that have been probably introduced from E urope 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 from A ustralia in H ypogastrura and C eratophysella are C . communis ( F olsom, 1897), C . denticulata ( B agnall, 1941), C . gibbosa ( B agnall, 1940), C . succinea ( G isin, 1949), H ypogastrura assimilis ( K rausbauer, 1898), H . distincta ( A xelson, 1902), H . manubrialis ( T ullberg, 1869), H . purpurescens ( L ubbock, 1867, H . vernalis ( C arl, 1901) and H . viatica ( T ullberg, 1872), and a new species C . pauciseta sp. nov. C eratophysella communis was misidentified in some published literature as C . engadinensis G isin, 1949. Although C . communis is confirmed as occurring in A ustralia, there now seems to be no evidence that C . engadinensis occurs here, and the name H . denticulata may include more than one species. An illustrated dichotomous key and description is given here for all Australian species of H ypogastrura and C eratophysella , and their distributions and habitats documented. Their value as indicators of disturbed habitats in A ustralia is discussed. C ollembola in general have been shown to have a positive influence on nutrient cycling. It is not known what contribution H ypogastrura and C eratophysella make to A ustralian arable and grazing systems in this respect, but it may be considerable because of their abundance.