36 COLLEMBOLA OF MINNESOTA 



probably from Seira the preceding genus became specialized by 

 a cave habit which caused it to lose its eyes and color. 



Both of our species were originally described from England 

 by Sir John Lubbock, and are likely to be found in greenhouses, 

 and dwelling houses. The Seiras seem to flourish in dryer 

 places than are chosen by other Collembolans. Our species are 

 readily distinguished by their difference in color. 



Key to the Genus Seira. 



General color dark purple. Head yellow except the eyespots 

 and their connecting dark band. buskii, 83. 



General color dark yellow, with a few dark blue markings. 

 Very narrow cross-bands on the caudal edges of Abd, III, 

 IV and V, all of Abd. VI, and the cephalic and lateral edges 

 of Th. II, dark. Noticeable dark spots on the sides of Abd. 

 IV near its caudal edge. nigromaculata, 84. 



Genus Lepidocyrtus Bourlet 1839. 

 This is also an entomobryoid genus bearing scales and hav- 

 ing the pronotum more or less produced forwards so as to con- 

 ceal the head wholly or in part. The scales have a brilliant me- 

 tallic lustre, being brightly iridescent in some species. We 

 may recognise two types of species in the genus: first, those 

 with a strongly produced pronotum, to which belongs our L. 

 albicans ; and, second, those smaller forms in which the pronotum 

 is more massive and projects less. To this latter division our 

 other five species may be referred. These latter are heavier 

 bodied throughout, and have less rangy limbs and shorter an- 

 tennee in proportion to the length of the body. The fourth ab- 

 dominal segment is from three to four times as long as the 

 third. Ocelli (in our species) 16, 10 or 6. Antennae never more 

 than half as long as the body. 



Key to the Genus Lepidocyrtus. 



1. a. — Pronotum strongly produced forwards so as to con- 



ceal much of the head. Color yellowish white, with some 

 blue on antennae. Length 1.5 mm. albicans, 85. 



b. — Pronotum massive (see figures). Smaller, heavier bod- 

 ied species. 2. 



2. a. — Color silvery white. 3. 



