«Springtails» (Collembola). Theireconomic import= 
ance, with notes on some unrecorded instances 
of damage, 
PEREDA DEFOBALD,M. Ar BE. Sesion. PR. ES. etc: 
The importance of the Collembola or « Springtails », one of the 
two divisions of the order Aptera, as destructive insects has been 
referred to by Sir JOHN LUBBOCK (now Lord AVEBURY) and 
JOHN CURTIS, and since then in several parts of the world references 
have been made to them in connection with the damage they do to 
plants. The order, however, has been more or less ignored by 
economic entomologists. 
Recently some fresh facts have come to light through the 
researches of Professor CARPENTER of Dublin in connection 
with Apteran injury, and several new forms of damage are record- 
ed here. 
Their insignificant size is made up for by their enormous num- 
bers at certain times and in certain places. 
That very many are non-injurious we know, but of these, how 
many may under altered circumstances become of economic 
importance we do not know. Certain species, especially in the 
genera Sminthurus and Lipura, are undoubtedly quite harmful to 
plant life, attacking both leaves and stems; others damage roots 
(Templetonia) and others seem to so disturb the soil (Achorutes) 
that seedlings suffer. 
Although their mouth parts are weak, the mandibles are suffi- 
ciently powerful to do much harm. Moreover in a second way 
these minute insects may do harm, namely, by so opening plant 
tissue that it is easily invaded by bacteria and fungoid pests, and 
as many are found feeding on diseased and fungus growths, it is 
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