Family TOMOCERIDAE

Lepidophorella sp.

© Copyright J. Thurmer. CSIRO Entomology.

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Introduction

This is a family of large and conspicuous Collembola. Only five genera and seven species are recorded for Australia. One undescribed genus is known. The family is mainly Holarctic in distribution, although three genera, Lasofinius Ireson & Greenslade, 1990, Lepidophorella Schaeffer, 1897 and Novacerus Salmon, 1942, have restricted southern, Antarctic distributions. Species of Lepidophorella are abundant in leaf litter of cool humid forests and there are many undescribed species. Novacerus occurs on tree trunks in cool temperate rainforest.

Diagnosis

Characterised by: thorax I reduced and without setae, mandibular plate present, scales usually present, abdomen III only slightly longer than abdomen IV, antenna III usually equal to or longer than antenna IV.

General References

Christiansen, K. & Bellinger, P.F. 1992. Collembola. pp. 1–445 in, Insects of Hawaii. Vol. 15. Honolulu : University of Hawaii Press.

Yosii, R. 1967. Studies on the Collembolan family Tomoceridae, with special reference to Japanese forms. Contributions from the Biological Laboratory Kyoto University 20: 1-54

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