COLLEMBOLA > SYMPHYPLEONA > Katiannidae

As previously noted, the SYMPHYPLEONA order includes quite a few species with dubious or unclear status, which is confusing enough but, to complicate matters further, there are other new 'novel' non-native species that are being found that need to be assigned some form of name. But, because their precise origin isn't known, they can't be properly classified, so are listed in a different way. They are simply named nov.1 sp.nov, nov.1 sp.nov.2 etc with nov indicating that both the genus and the species are unknown, which is a safer method than coming up with a new name that would be in conflict with the actual name from the country of origin if known.   

The first individual featured here was identified as Katiannidae genus nov.1 sp.nov, being the first listed, and simply described as a very small globular springtail with marked flanks and transverse stripes across the back. The second is genus nov.1 sp.nov.2, which is very similar, but has mottled flanks and an orange-red back. They are quite variable so I wouldn't say that the individuals represented here are typical.

Females grow to about 1.5mm, the males a little smaller. They have four or five instar stages before they're fully developed, moulting each time as they get a bit larger, but otherwise looking much the same except that the pigmentation also becomes a bit darker with age. Not surprisingly, at this size they can be hard to find and even more difficult to photograph, which is why one of the first specimens I found was photographed in a dish. The pale anal valves indicate that it's probably a female, also borne out by the rather sparce pigmentation, which is generally more extensive in the males. The last photo, taken on the rim of our garden waste bin, is sp.nov.2.