Springtails (Collembola) inhabit soils from the Arctic to the Antarctic and comprise an estimated ~32% of all terrestrial arthropods on Earth. Here, we present a global, spatially-explicit database on springtail communities that includes 249,912 occurrences from 44,999 samples and 2,990 sites. These data are mainly raw sample-level records at the species level collected predominantly from private archives of the authors that were quality-controlled and taxonomically-standardised.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMegalothorax Willem, 1900 is a genus of Neelidae (Collembola) with worldwide distribution. Three new species are described here: Megalothorax anterolenis sp. nov.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSoil life supports the functioning and biodiversity of terrestrial ecosystems. Springtails (Collembola) are among the most abundant soil arthropods regulating soil fertility and flow of energy through above- and belowground food webs. However, the global distribution of springtail diversity and density, and how these relate to energy fluxes remains unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe black soldier fly (BSF) Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) has been recognized as a promising insect species for sustainable management of organic waste and by-products. Indoor breeding of BSF with artificial lighting has been proved successful, but efforts are still needed to optimize BSF reproductive output.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFour new species of the mite family Microdispidae, Phyllodispus tenuisetus sp. nov., Promicrodispus bisetus sp.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLarvae of the black soldier fly (BSF) Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) are promising organisms to be used for organic waste bioconversion. Breeding BSF indoors has been suggested as a cost-effective approach for countries with long winters or low sunlight levels through the year.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSeven new species of the mite family Scutacaridae (Acari: Pygmephoroidea) are described from the alpine zone (1600-1900 m a.s.l.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTwo new genera and four new species of the mite family Neopygmephoridae (Acari: Pygmephoroidea) are described from the alpine zone (1600-1900 m a.s.l.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDue to an unfortunate turn of events, the statistical results for TS1 (F- and p-values) in Table 4 were displayed in reversed order. The correct representation of Table 4 is published here and should be treated as definitive.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe analysed species-level datasets representing Oribatida assemblages along a gradient of old-growth primary tropical forests, secondary forests, and plantation forests in Dong Nai Biosphere Reserve, Vietnam. We identified patterns in abundance, species richness and species assemblages of Oribatida, then applied taxonomic sufficiency approach to the datasets. Using three levels of higher-taxon aggregation, we evaluated whether aggregated datasets are useful in identifying ecological patterns, in comparison to species-level data.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFParasitoid fitness depends on its ability to manipulate reproductive strategies when in competition. This study investigated the parasitism and sex allocation strategies of the parasitic wasp Diaeretiella rapae McIntosh at a range of host (Brevicoryne brassicae L.) and conspecific densities.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThree new species of oribatid mites of the family Punctoribatidae (Acari, Oribatida) are described from alpine bogs of the Central Otago region in the South Island of New Zealand. Macrogena hexasetosa sp. nov.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA new oribatid mite genus, Zealandozetes gen. nov. (Oribatida, Maudheimiidae), with type species Zealandozetes southensis sp.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThree new species of oribatid mites of the family Oppiidae (Oribatida, Oppioidea), belonging to the genera/subgenera Tripiloppia Hammer, 1968 and Lanceoppia (Baioppia) Luxton, 1985, are described from Central Otago, South Island, New Zealand. Tripiloppia frigida sp. nov.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEucolaspis Sharp 1886 is a New Zealand native leaf beetle genus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Eumolpinae) with poorly described species and a complex taxonomy. Many economically important fruit crops are severely damaged by these beetles. Uncertain species taxonomy of Eucolaspis is leaving any biological research, as well as pest management, tenuous.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe effects of topographic variables (elevation above sea level, slope position, topographic (wetness) index, and global solar radiation) on mite abundances and on quantitative composition of Oribatida communities in soil and litter have been studied in six sites along a hill slope in a tropical lowland forest in the Bu Gia Map National Park, Southern Vietnam. A positive relationship existed between abundance and species richness of Oribatida in soil cores, and global solar radiation (W h m(-2)) which quantifies the total sun energy available to the local ecosystem. There was no significant relationship between abundance of Mesostigmata and topographic variables.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTwo new species of oribatid mites of the genus Scapheremaeus (Oribatida, Cymbaeremaeidae), Scapheremaeusgibbus sp. n. and Scapheremaeusluxtoni sp.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTwo new species of oribatid mites of the genus Macrogena (Oribatida, Ceratozetidae) are described from alpine soils of the South Island of New Zealand. Macrogenabrevisensilla sp. n.
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