1914 Pomona College Journal of Entomology and Zoology, Vol. VI, No, 3, Sept. 



The Distribution of Collembola in the 



Claremont-Laguna Region 



of California 



GERTRUDE AULD BACON 



GENERAL HABITS 



The Colleml)ola, althoiigii minute in size, are very common, 

 being fonncl in almost every condition wliere there is moisture 

 and some decaying- vegetable matter. Moistnre seems to be 

 essential to their existence. Tliey are common nnder rocks, 

 liark of trees, nnder leaves, in rotten logs, and in moss. Some 

 8})ecies collect in great nnmbers on the surface of standing- 

 water, and others, the snow-fleas, ai)i)ear in crowds so dense 

 as to cover the snow. Some have been fonnd in honses, in 

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

 Eutoniohriia laguua, are found only on the undersides of rocks 

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

 soil, usually being found on the surface and seldom deeper 

 tlian 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 l)ut 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 ]ilenty of moisture. 



Tliere 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 



