Diversity of springtails (collembola: Insecta) in different tree ecosystems of Varanasi, India

Abstract

Diversity of collembola in different tree ecosystems, were investigated in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. A total of 2568 specimens of 10 genera belonging to 8 families viz., Isotomidae, Entomobryidae, Paronellidae, Cyphoderidae, Onychiuridae, Hypogastruridae, Sminthurididae, and Katiannidae were recorded. Collembola genera viz., Lepidocyrtus sp., Entomobrya sp., Hypogastrurasp., Sminthurinus sp, Sminthurides sp, were most common among almost all the ecosystems followed by Isotomurus sp., Crytopygus sp., Cyphoderus sp., Onychiurus sp, and Folsomia sp. A Maximum population of 17.71% was recorded during the month of September in Bael ecosystem and minimum in the Aonla ecosystem. In the abundance of collembola in general, there were pronounced seasonal fluctuations of different genera in all the ecosystems. Two peaks in September and October and a fall in December was observed in the population fluctuation. The distribution and abundance of soil fauna was more during monsoon period. These organisms play a functional role in soil ecosystem and there is lack of enough records of these beneficial insects from different ecosystems.