Protura insects biology and their habitat

Insect order

1. Sasaki, G., Ishiwata , K., Machida, R.  et al.  Molecular phylogenetic analyses support the monophyly of Hexapoda and suggest the paraphyly of Entognatha .  BMC Evol Biol   13 , 236 (2013).

2. Protura

3. Classification: Kingdom Animalia Phylum Arthropoda Class Entognatha Order Protura

4. Protura comes from the Greek words proto , which means first or primitive, and ura , which means tail. This refers to the lack of cerci or other advanced structures at the end of the abdomen.

5. General characteristics: tiny (less than 2 mm in body length) enlarged   forelegs ; modified for sensory purposes pale , usually white or off-white, soft body cone-shaped   head Wingless eyeless no antennae Mouthparts do not bite Single segmented tarsi, each ending in a claw and bristle like terminal pad

6. • possess a telson , which is an extra bit of abdomen-like segments at the end of the abdomen. • small  styli  (“mini-legs”) on the first three segments of the  abdomen anamorphic development (segments added at moults) •  direct development  (nymphs and adults nearly indistinguishable) Number of recognized species worldwide: about 742 ( Szeptycki , 2007) India : 20 species First proturan discovered by Sylvestri in1907 from Italy

7. Little is known about the ecology of Protura , including their diet. In culture, proturans have been observed feeding on mycorrhizal fungi, dead Acari , and mushroom powder. Proturans are found world-wide primarily inhabiting soil, leaf litter, moss, under bark and decaying wood. They have also been collected in animal burrows, meadows, and agriculture soils.

8. Order Collembola-Springtails

9. The common name "springtail" is derived from the forked structure or furcula that propels these minute hexapods through the air. The word  Collembola  is from the ancient Greek  kólla  "glue" and   émbolos  "peg" Many Collembola (almost all Onychiuridae , many Hypogastruridae , and some Isotomidae ) lack a furcula . The furcula arises on the ventral side of the fourth abdominal segment and, when at rest, is folded forward beneath the abdomen and held in place by a clasp like appendage on the third abdominal segment called the retinaculum OR tenaculum . When disturbed the animal jumps by extending the furcula downward and backward. A springtail 3 to 6 mm in length may be able to leap 75 to 100 mm.

10. Many collembolans have up to eight ommatidia on each side of the head, whereas others have the ommatidia reduced or are totally blind. Mouthparts vary enormously, but generally are somewhat elongate and always concealed within the head. Although some species are carnivores or fluid feeders, most species feed on decaying vegetable material and fungi and have mandibles with welI developed molar plates. Biting and chewing mouthparts

11. Others are fluid feeders and have stylet like mouthparts. The antennae are short, normalIy with four segments. The tarsi are one-segmented and fused with the tibiae. These hexapods have a tube like appendage, the collophore , on the ventral side of the first abdominal segment; a bilobed , eversible vesicle may be protruded at its apex. OriginalIy entomologists believed the collophore enabled the animal to cling to the surface on which it walked (hence the order name), but in addition the structure plays a role in water uptake and excretion.

12. Springtails, although very common and abundant, are seldom observed because of their small size (0.25 to 6 mm) and habit of living in concealed situations. Most species live in the soil or in such habitats as leaf litter, under bark, in decaying logs, and in fungi. Some species may be found on the surface of fresh water pools or along seashores; some occur on vegetation; and a few live in termite and ant nests, caves, or snow fields and glaciers. Springtail populations are often very large: upto 100,000/m 2 ) of surface soil, or literalIy millions per hectare.

13. Most soil-inhabiting springtails feed on decaying plant material, fungi, and bacteria. Others feed on arthropod faeces, polIen , algae, and other materials. A few species may occasionally cause damage in gardens, greenhouses, or mushroom celIars . https://youtu.be/mcjx7TNWD_s