COLLEMBOLA > ENTOMOBRYOMORPHA > ENTOMOBRYOIDEA > Entomobryidae > Orchesellinae

As previously noted, Entomobryidae includes four subfamilies consisting 35 species in ten genera. The family as a whole are sometimes referred to as the 'slender springtails', and are characterised by having an enlarged fourth abdominal segment and a well-developed furca.

The genus includes just two species; Heteromurus nitidus as described below and Heteromurus major, which is very scarce.

Heteromus nitidus is a common and widespread species found in a variety of habitats, including caves. It has an iridescent body that is covered in rounded scales, albeit only visible with high-powered magnification. Details of the antennae are difficult to see, but there are actually four, rather than five, segments as the terminal segments are subdivided (also known as annulated). Most characteristically, the eyes consist of a single reddish-brown ocellus on each side of the head making the species easy to identify.

Interestingly, one of the leading authorities on Collembola noted that this particular individual could well be a juvenile Heteromurus major given that the eyepatch is not particularly reddish and there appears to be more than one ocellus. Personally, I'm not sure how he could see any detail in the 'eye' as I certainly couldn't even with the original image enlarged on a full-size monitor.