The Distribution of Collembola in the 



Claremont-Laguna Region 



of California 



GERTRUDE AULD BACON 



GP]NERAL HABITS 



The Oollemliola, although minute in size, are very common, 

 being found in almost every condition where there is moisture 

 and some decaying vegetable matter. Moisture seems to be 

 essential to their existence. They are common under rocks, 

 bark of trees, under leaves, in rotten logs, and in moss. Some 

 species collect in great numbers on the surface of standing 

 water, and others, the snow-fleas, appear in crowds so dense 

 as to cover the snow. Some have been found in houses, in 

 ant nests and in the gills of mushrooms. Some species, as 

 Entomohri/a laguna, are found only on the undersides of rocks 

 in the ocean. They do not generally penetrate deeply into the 

 soil, usually being found oh the surface and seldom deeper 

 than three inches. The soil must be of a loose, open texture. 

 They seem to avoid the light and are timid and retiring. Very 

 few of them are solitary and several species may be found 

 together. The complex forms are very lively in their move- 

 ments and are hard to catch but the simple forms that lack 

 the spring are more sluggish. Some species require more 

 moisture than others and so appear at different times, but 

 most of the species may be found the year around providing 

 there is plenty of moisture. 



There is very little exact knowledge about the food of the 

 Collembola, but an examination of the stomach contents seems 

 to show that they feed upon decaying vegetable matter. Very 

 little has been written on the feeding habits. Dr. Fitch 

 observed that the front legs were often used to crowd the food 

 into the mouth. Folsom (1899) states that possibly the food is 

 moistened with saliva before being eaten and then the food 



