COLLEMBOLA > SYMPHYPLEONA > Dicyrtomidae > Dicyrtominae

Whilst Dicyrtomina violacea is not yet officially recognised as a British species, it is on the European list and there have been verified records from the UK. Whether it is in fact a separate species or simply a different colour form of Dicyrtomina ornata is open to debate. The main difference between the two is that Dicyrtomina violacea is described as having an entirely purple ground colour with lighter orange reticulations rather than the normal, albeit variable, greenish or orangey colour with maroon markings. Another characteristic that’s been mentioned is that the distal end of the second segment of the antennae have a definite yellow band and, I believe more recently, there's been a further confirmed observation in that the head is lighter than the body, whereas in Dicyrtoma fusca (a completely separate species) the head and body are similar colour.

Although not shown on the UoR taxonomy page, Dicyrtomina violacea does have a NatureSpot species page and is referred to on their associated 'Dicyrtomidae identification guide'.

The photos below are for reference only. The individual is not Dicyrtomina violacea, but it does show that Dicyrtomina ornata can be found with variable and often darker pigmentation and, I assume, likewise with Dicyrtomina saundersi.