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The Collembola of the Vancouver Region of British Columbia

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The Collembola of the Vancouver Region of British Columbia THE COLLEMBOLA OF THE VANCOUVER REGION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA by LIONEL EARL WADE A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS in the Department of ZOOLOGY We acoept this thesis as conforming to the standard required from candidates for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS Members of the Department of Zoology. THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA April, 1954 ABSTRACT An initial study of the Collembola of British Columbia, based on two hundred and eighty-seven collections from locations in the lower Fraser Valley, eastern Vancouver Island and the area around Kamloops in the Dry Interior, reveals forty-five definitely identified species, herein briefly described, annotated and illustrated, and an equal number, not included in this work, upon which further study is necessary. The species recorded here consist of twelve species of the Family Poduridae, eight species of the Family Isotomidae, twenty-one species of the Family Entomobryidae, and four species of the Family Sminthuridae. The diversity of species, as shown in this limited study, indicates that this Order of insects is very substantially represented in this Province of extremely diversified ecological habitats. This present work constitutes the first portion of a monograph of the Collembola of British Columbia upon which the author is currently engaged. ACKNOYiTLEDGMENTS My sincerest thanks are extended to Dr. W.A. Clemens, former Head of the Department of Zoology under whom this work was "begun, and to Dr. Ian MoT. Cowan, present Head of the Department, for their advice and encouragement at all times, and for extending to me the facilities of the Department. Special thanks are due to Professor G.J". Spencer whose encouragement and advice have been a continuous aid in developing all phases of this topic. In addition to making available the collections of the University of British Columbia, his assistance with the collection of specimens and the revision of the manuscript were especially appreciated. My cordial thanks go also to Dr. K. Graham and Dr. J". Adams who helped greatly in the preparation and correction of the drawings; to Miss M.A. Allen, Mr. A.R. Forbes, Mr. R. Edwards, and Mr. G.M. Wade, who made collections for me in areas which I was unable to reach; to Mr. W.L. Mackenrot and Mr. L. Naughty for obtaining the Ozalid reproductions of the drawings; to Mrs. J. Lookhart, and Mr. R. Reid for advice in the preparation of many sections; and finally and particularly to my wife Rose Wade for typing this thesis and for continuous encouragement and help; without her self-sacrifice I would not have been able to attend the University. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction: (a) Purpose of this Study on Collemhola 1 (h) Economic Importance of Collembola 2 (c) Nature of Damage... 3 (d) Previous study on Collemhola in British Columbia .. 4 (e) Previous study elsewhere in North America on Collembola 5 2. Geography and Climate of the Region:.'.. 6 3. Collection and Preparation of Specimens:.. 8 (a) Methods of Collecting 8 (b) Methods of Mounting for Observation. 10 (c) Purpose of Collections 11 4. Ecology: 12 (a) Habitat 12 (b) Food .13 (c) Moisture and Thermal Limits .14 i Oviposition 14 ii Hatchability 15 iii Survival of the Adult 16 (d) Distribution 16 (S) Abundance. .18 5. Life Cycle: 19 (a) Mating 20 (b) Oviposition ...20 (c) Embryology .21 (a) Hatching .21 (e) Metamorphosis.... ...22 6. Morphology: • *22 (a) External Structure ..22 (b.) Internal Structure 26 7. Systematic List and Description of Species: 28 (a) Nomenclature and Synonomy 28 (b) List of the Species of Collembola of the Vancouver Region ..29 (c) Description of Species ..31 8. Phylogeny: . .121 9. Literature Consulted: 123 TABLE OF PLATES Plate 1. following page 7. Map of the South West corner of British Columbia Map of the Vancouver Region Plate 2. following page 9. Outline of the proceedure to separate small insects from leaves Plate 5. following page 22. Diagram of an Arthropleonid Diagram of a Symphypleonid Plate 4. following page 23. Diagram of a Podurid Diagram of a Tibiotarsus Diagram of the Genitalia Plates 5 to 50. following individual descriptions. Diagrams of various parts of Collembola COLLEMBOLA OF THE VANCOUVER REGION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA 1. Introduction: (a) Purpose of this Study on Collembola. Insects of the ©rder Collembola are one of the most widely distributed forms of animals in the world today. Due to their small size, which seldom exceeds five mm. in length and the scarcity of economic damage caused by these insects, systematists have largely overlooked this ©rder. In North America at present, only three men are working on the systematics of this Order; only one man, Macnamara (1935) has seriously collected them in eastern Canada. Apart from a short list of fifteen species put out by Spencer (1948) the Order has not been correctly investigated in British Columbia. In his paper, Spencer records that the late Justus Folsom, chief student of these insects on this continent, informed him by correspondence that at least one hundred species should occur in this province. In view of the serious gap in our knowledge of this Carder in Canada, and especially in the west, it seemed highly desirable that at least a start should be made in collecting and identifying the species in the lower Fraser Valley and the coastal islands. Therefore, for the last eighteen months, whenever time permitted, efforts have been made to visit areas in this region and to collect Collembola. The forty-five species recorded here have been identified by the writer, using the splendid monographs of - £ - Folsom (1913-1937) and Maynard (1951), with what is felt to he a high degree of accuracy. Only those definitely identified have been included here. In addition, an even greater number of species have been collected but only tentatively separated and identified, the positive identify ication of all my material by an authority has not been possible because specialists in this order deal with it only on a part-time basis and cannot commit themselves to examine and return material within a specified time. When my total collections have been identified the list presented here will probably be doubled, and since the collections represent only a limited coastal portion of this Province, the prophesy of Dr. J.W. Folsom, that there should be at least one hundred species in British Columbia, should be amply justified, (b) Economic Importance of Collembola. Relatively few members of this order are of economic importance and still fewer are of known importance. Most species are not of economic importance due to their feeding habits. That is, they subsist on algae, fungi, lichens and decaying organic matter. The few which are of economic importance, consume very little food because of their small size. Only when in exceedingly great abundance do they cause enough damage to be noticeable. Many other species are not recognized as pests even though agricultural products are their food. Since populations of these remain relatively small, their feeding only slightly inhibits, . •:• the growth of the host plant. This reduces the yield, but will not destroy any part of the crop outright. As the size and value of any crop increases so does the value of the damage caused by the pest. In general, the damage eaused by Collembola does not justify the cost of control measures. Only where the crop is of special value or when an entire crop is likely to be destroyed will control measures be needed, (c) Nature of Damage. Of those species which feed on the leaves, mostly seedling plants, some prefer the upper surface, others the lower surface and still others will feed on both. They may themselves make irregular holes in the leaves or enlarge wounds caused by potato or flea beetles. Feeding collectively, they can destroy the cotyledons and other leaves completely. Further damage will result if bacteria or fungi gain entrance through these wounds. Below the soil surface Collembola will injure the stem or even cut it through. On the roots, pits are cut out or the root hairs and rootlets eaten. Seeds and bulbs may have the entire interior excavated. A major pest causing such damage in truck garden crops is the "garden springtail" (Bourletlella hortensis Fitch)• A second class of Injury is to commercial mushroom crops. Damage is inflicted by eating the spawn and by chewing holes in the stems and caps of the mushrooms. Species commonly found in mushroom beds are Hypogastrura armata Nicolet, Xenylla hum!cola Tullberg, and Lepidooyrtus cyaneus - 4 - Tullberg. Springtail damage to the roots of sugar cane causes an overall reduction in growth and final weight. Germination is impaired where buds and bud scales are eaten. Ingram (1931) states there may be a relation between insect attack and root rot. The possibility of Springtails causing damage in forests is indicated in a report by W.E. Collinge (1913), He found Seira nigromaoulata Lubbock attacking the shoots of Pinus sylvestris L. This insect is attracted by resinous gums and as the leaf bud opens, it makes its way to the bases of young leaves. Its feeding causes the needles to turn yellow and drop. As a household pest, Springtails are of no economic importance, other than annoying people, who dislike "bugs". A spectacular instance of damage caused by an introduced pest occured when the "Lucerne flea" (Sminthurus vlridls L.) was carried into Australia in the early part of this century. By 1930 it had increased in abundanoe to such an extent that it threatened the Alfalfa and other forage crops of South Australia. To date, this species has not been recorded in North America.
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