COLLEMBOLA > PODUROMORPHA > NEANUROIDEA > Neanuridae > Neanurinae

As previously noted, Monobella grassei is closely related to Neanura muscorum sharing the same general distinguishing characters of having a much reduced, non-effective furca, which is no more than a tiny flap, together with a body that is covered in warty bumps and long setae.

The general appearance of the two species is very similar, although Monobella grassei is much smaller, about half the size in fact of Neanura muscorum, with an average length of just 1.6mm. It has the same short-legged, plump shape with well separated abdominal segments, and short stubby antennae. The body setae though are longer and the eyes have two (just about visible in the first photo), rather than three, ocelli. Although often described as being orange, many individuals are more of a creamy yellow colour, which could easily lead to confusion with pale-coloured Neanura muscorum without due consideration of their size and finer details.

The species is described as being widespread and common yet, at the time of writing, only 54 records have been added to the NBN Atlas and most of those are unconfirmed. None of these are from Dorset (VC9) or South Hampshire (VC11). The situation isn't much better for Neanura muscorum although, by comparison, there are seven-times that number.

I think that the small size of these species together with the associated rigmarole that would be required to have a sighting confirmed is going to deter most casual observers, which is why springtails in general are so under-recorded.

I'm sure that I've seen Monobella grassei on a few occasions, but the following two photos are the only ones that I've taken so far. The identity was confirmed by one of the country's Collembola experts.