Simple Summary The material for this study was obtained after intensive sampling in the colluvial mesovoid shallow substratum (MSS) of the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park using 33 subterranean sampling devices (SSD). The data were obtained from the first extraction of the traps between May and October of 2015. This paper presents the results for a small part of the total Collembola captured (4.4% of the total for this sampling), namely, the Neelipleona and Symphypleona. Eleven species belonging to seven families were identified, two of which are new species. Based on the results of this study, and others previously published on Collembola of the MSS in the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park, the presence of epigeal and edaphic species is observed, which, in general, are not as abundant as the newly discovered species. The high abundance and extensive presence in the hypogean environment of most of the new species discovered are indicative that the MSS has a unique and distinct Collembola community. Megalothorax minimus (Neelidae) and Sphaeridia pumilis (Sminthurididae) had already been identified in surface sampling from Sierra de Guadarrama. In Europe, Sminthurinus gisini (Katiannidae) seems to be associated with environments at specific altitudes, and has little representation in this sampling. Pygmarrhopalites custodum Baquero and Jordana sp. nov. (Arrhopalitidae) coexists with two previously identified surface occurring species of the same family (P. elegans and Arrhop

The studied area (Far East of Russia) is very little investigated for the Entomobryidae family. A specific sampling in the area has made it possible to detect the presence of four and one new species of the genera Entomobrya and Willowsia respectively, which are herein described (E. amurica sp. nov., E. mediostriata sp. nov., E. umbroviolacea sp. nov., E bicincta sp. nov. and W babykinae sp. nov.) from the western part of the Far East of Russia. Homidia hjesanica is also recorded.

We studied Entomobryidae and Orchesellidae springtails collected throughout Chechnya, Ingushetia, and Dagestan, Russia. Three new species of the genus Entomobrya (E. multisetis sp. nov., E. hirsutothorax sp. nov., and E. kremenitsai sp. nov.), and one of Entomobryoides (E. dagestanicus sp. nov.) are described. Taxonomic information for Entomobrya nicoleti (Lubbock, 1868), Willowsia potapovi Zhang et al., 2011, and Heteromurus nitidus (Templeton, 1836) in Templeton & Westwood 1836 from the Caucasus are given. Although the Caucasus is faunistically interesting, the Collembola of this region are poorly studied. The list of the Caucasian species of the family Entomobryidae and, particularly, the genus Entomobrya, appears to be very limited. In the past, Stach (1963) described four new species and recorded three more based on color patterns. Afterward, several pattern-identified species were mentioned in the local lists of different areas of Caucasus (Rasulova 1980; Kremenitsa 2002; Dobrolubova 1982; and others, see Table 1). The only known modern taxonomic paper on the genus for the Caucasus was by Jordana et al. (2011a) where three new species were described from Russia (Kabardino-Balkaria) and Armenia. Concerning earlier described forms, in his monograph, Jordana (2012)

The study of Onychiuridae from 42 caves of the north of the Iberian Peninsula and southwestern France has revealed the existence of 32 species inhabiting the caves of the Basque bio-speleological district, among which four new species are described: Deuteraphorura bizkaiensis sp. nov., Deuteraphorura bolivari sp. nov., Onychiurus arbailakensis sp. nov. and Protaphorura leitzaldeaensis sp. nov. Furthermore, three species, Deuteraphorura boneti (Gisin, 1953), Deuteraphorura akelaris (Jordana & Beruete, 1983) and Spinonychiurus vandeli (Cassagnau, 1960), are redescribed based on type and new material to furnish the description of some characters, especially concerning the chaetotaxy, not considered in the original description. Keys to the recorded species are also reported.

The reception and development of Darwin¿s ideas have displaced mankind from the central place in the Cosmos, becoming no more than another evolved animal. This work offers a critical-scientific critique of the dominant ideas in the field of scientific research and debate into the origins of Man. By means of an interdisciplinary analysis (science, philosophy, and theology) of the scientifically proven facts, it is concluded that specimens classified in the genus Homo constitute a single species whose morphological evolution (hominization) is posterior to its humanization.

This paper describes Pseudosinella altamirensis sp. nov. from the Altamira Caves, municipal district of Santillana del Mar (Cantabria, Spain), and five other caves near the coast of Cantabria (northern Spain). Its taxonomic position is discussed and differences and similarities among morphologically and geographi-cally close species are highlighted. The new species can be identified by its five eyes, the basal and small inner paired teeth on the claw, and the length of the uncrenulated part of the distal dens.

The determinants of biodiversity patterns in the subterranean habitat called Mesovoid Shallow Substratum (MSS) are not well-understood. In this study, thirty-three scree slopes at high altitudes were selected across the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park in central Spain to investigate the effect of ten environmental variables on the abundance and species diversity of the spider and springtail assemblages from the colluvial MSS. In each locality, a multiperforated PVC tube with a pitfall trap inside was buried up to 1 m deep, and generalized linear models and Mantel tests were used to analyze the effect of mainly climate- and habitat-related variables on the diversity patterns of both taxa. A total of 1143 individual spiders belonging to 54 species and 40 811 springtail individuals belonging to 62 species were collected. The analyses indicated that cold temperatures and the presence of forest cover on the surface significantly enhance richness and abundance in the two taxa. Environmental similarity also had a small positive effect on faunistic similarity. However, the effects of temperature and habitat detected on spider richness and abundance were stronger than on springtails, whereas the reverse was found regarding faunistic similarity. These results indicate that subterranean dwellers respond differently to the same environmental factors, which in turn, points to a different degree of affinity for the MSS.

Originally the genus Entomobrya (Collembola: Entomobryidae) comprised 25 species names in Australia including 7 subspecies of which 13 were exotic (50%) and the rest native. All native species had been either described by H. Schott or H. Womersley and had not been examined since 1942. Specific characters they used were few, mainly colour pattern and gross morphological features such as unguis, unguis teeth and mucronal form. Chaetotaxic characters have now been developed. We now here recognise 47 species of Australian Entomobrya and Hymalanura based on a large collection made over 50 years. Six species (12%) are now recognised as introduced. 37 are new and three unresolved because of lack of specimens in good condition. Detailed descriptions and figures are supplied. Several new species are short-range endemics of conservation significance, others are specialised as to habitat, but most are widespread. Entomobrya is now the most species rich genus of Australian Collembola. A phylogenetic tree based on morphological and biological characters revealed clusters of exotic and montane habitat specialists, indicating that the genus is paraphyletic and so confirms other authors' work based on molecular characters. A key is supplied to Australian genera of Entomobryomorpha. A new genus record. Himalanura. is recognised extending its range to the Southern Hemisphere and 5,000 km further southeast.

In aquatic macroinvertebrate sampling campaigns carried out between 2004 and 2008 in the malladas (inter-dune depressions that receive rainwater or are fed from a local aquifer) of the Devesa and Race de l'Olla of the Albufera Natural Park of Valencia (Spain), 18 taxa of Collembola were collected and distributed among seven families of Poduromorpha, Entomobryomorpha and Symphypleona. Entomobrya benaventi sp. nov., is present in the vegetation associated with different samples "malladas" (Ra01b, Ra04, Sa04, Sa03/04, etc.) and showed sexual dimorphism different from other species of the genus. The sampling also included the first citation for the Iberian Peninsula of Jordanathrix articulata articulata (Ellis, 1974). Springtails are part of the fauna studied in the malladas and provide increased knowledge of the existing biological diversity in a restored and protected environment.

The material for this study was obtained after intensive sampling in the colluvial milieu souterrain superficiel (mesovoid shallow substratum, or MSS) of the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park using 33 subterranean sampling devices (SSD). The data were obtained from the first extraction of the traps between May and October of 2015. This paper presents the results for the Poduromorpha taxon, which was part of the total Collembola captured. Of the 17 species captured in this study, 11 had previously been cited in Guadarrama, four are new references, and two new species. Friesea ortunoi Jordana and Baquero sp. nov. is characterised as having seven eyes, tibiotarsus as having one clavate chaetae and only two spiniform chaetae on Abd VI. Schaefferia sendrai Jordana and Baquero sp. nov. is characterised as having six eyes, seven sensilla on Ant IV, a bi- or tri-lobed apical vesicle on the antennal tip, claws with internal tooth and lateral (posterior) tooth, dens with six chaetae and retinaculum with 5 + 4 teeth (asymmetrically). Based on the results of the study of the group of species of Xenylla Tullberg, 1869 that appeared, Xenylla xavieri Gama, 1959 is separated from Xenylla lotharingiae Thibaud, 1963 and a brief description of the latter is provided. The comparative study of the Schaefferia Absolon, 1900 species related to the new species found in the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park led to the description of two new species: Schaefferia fjellbergi Jordana and Baquero sp. nov. and Schaefferia babenkoi Jordana and Baquero sp. nov., accepting the previous descriptions. The mesovoid shallow substratum (MSS) was revealed as an important habitat for the richness of the Collembola species. Furthermore, the findings showed the value of MSS as an indicator of the richness of the Collembola species. As many as 3000-4000 specimens were gathered in one sample device SSD. Among all specimens, the most abundant was Hypogastrura meridionalis Steiner, 1955 (77.7 %) and the least abundant was Xenylla schillei Borner, 1903 (11.5 %). (C) 2020 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

This paper documents the collembolan fauna of the Campanet cave, in the province of Mallorca (Balearic Islands). Sampling was carried out using pitfall traps baited with beer and checked every 15 days. The cave fauna included the following species: Coecobrya tenebricosa, Disparrhopalites patrizi, Entomobrya pazaristei, Neelus murinus and Dicyrtomina ornata. In addition, two new species were found and are described here: Pseudosinella grauae sp. nov. and Oncopodura siquierae sp. nov. The former is characterised by an unpigmented body, eyes absent, dorsal chaetotaxy R0R1R2001/31/0101+2, with accessory chaeta `s¿ on Abd IV; all claws with three teeth; posterior chaetae on labial triangle as M1, M2, r, E, L1, L2, all ciliated except for r, a smooth microchaetae and smooth remaining anterior labial chaetae. O. siquierae sp. nov is typified by an unpigmented body; eyes absent; PAO as a single small vesicle; Ant IV with four distal leaf¿shaped sensilla and a basal pointed cylindrical chaeta; dens with one proximal inner spine, one distal inner tooth and a large disto-external hook¿like spine; and mucro with four teeth, the basal one distinctly pointed.

This paper examines a single genus of springtails (Collembola, Entomobryidae, Entomobrya) across the Canary Islands archipelago. A great sampling effort carried out more than 20 years ago, and over several years, allows us to present the distribution of the genus with the presence of 17 species, some better represented by their abundance than others. In addition to some species present in continental Europe or elsewhere in the world, or those already reported for the Canary Islands (e.g., E. multifasciata (Tullberg, 1871), E. nigrocincta Denis, 1923, E. palmensis Jordana & Baquero, 2010, E. quinquelineata Börner, 1901 and E. unostrigata Stach, 1930), 12 new species have been detected and described, representing 71% of the total species found. All new species have been named in honour of important persons to the history of the Canary Islands, including some leaders. A combination of colouring patterns and other morphological characteristics that are easy to observe in most specimens (Katz et al. 2015a, b) have been used for the identification of the specimens, as is usual for the genus (Christiansen 1958), in addition to the dorsal macrochaetotaxy formula proposed by Jordana & Baquero (2005). Without this formula, many specimens could not have been identified or distinguished from already described species because the colourations ¿in many cases¿show ranges so broad as not to be diagnostic. In some species, the range of colouration can range from totally clear to totally dark,

Here we present a survey of Seira fauna from Iberian Peninsula and Canary Islands, including the description of three new species from Spain: Seira barrai sp. nov., Seira betica sp. nov. and Seira burgersi sp. nov., the latter with unprece-dented antennal morphology for Seira. Five species from Western Europe are redescribed and their dorsal detailed chaetotaxy is revealed for the first time: S. domestica (Nicolet), S. dinizi Gama, S. ferrarii Parona, S. mantis Zeppelini & Bellini and S. pini Jordana & Arbea, the first two from type locality, and the latter two based on analysis of the type material. A note on chaetal interpretation of the first abdominal segment for Seira is presented. An identification key to 31 species with known dorsal chaetotaxy from Western Palearctic region is also provided, including a discussion on dense macrochaetotaxy present in Palearctic and Oriental species and its reduction in species from others biogeographic regions.

Two new species of Plutomurus, P. pichkhaiai sp. nov. from Garakha and Letsurtsume caves and P. shurubumuensis sp. nov. from Shurubumu Cave (Chkhorotsku district, Western Georgia) are described, and illustrated. The new species are very similar to P. kelasuricus from the Tsebelda karst massif formation in Apkhazeti, Georgia, but differ in having two inner spine-like chaetae on the inner edge of the hind tibiotarsus (only one in P. kelasuricus) and in occupying different, isolated cave formations separated by a geographic distance of nearly a 100 km. A key to the species of Plutomurus with 6 prelabral chaetae is provided.

We describe the male of Sinhomidia bicolor for the first time noting a morphological difference from the female. A new species, Sinhomidia guangxiensis sp. nov. is described and illustrated. The new species differs from S. bicolor by the appendages lacking scales, the mucronal basal spine reaching the apex of subapical tooth, the number of chaetae on the trochanteral organ and the distribution of macrochaetae on Th. II, Abd I and Abd II. A key to Sinhomidia species and a diagnostic table to separate male and female S. bicolor and the new species are provided.

Although Iberian subsurface terrestrial habitats have been sampled for a half century, they remain poorly known. During the last five years much more sampling of these subsurface habitats has been made, mainly in scree slopes (also called colluvial Mesovoid Shallow Substratum habitats, MSS) but also in alluvial debris of temporal watercourses (alluvial MSS). In our study, diplurans, a basal hexapod group, were extracted from two hundred traps installed in 69 locations in the mountain ranges of six different regions of the Iberian Peninsula, from north to south: Cantabrian, Pyrenees, Iberic System, Central System, Prebaetic and Penibaetic Mountains. A total of 1251 specimens in fifteen dipluran species: thirteen described Campodeidae, one described Japygidae and one new Campodea species inhabiting the alluvial MSS habitats of the watercourses of Prebaetic Mountains. A few populations of these dipluran species show troglobiomorphic features as a consequence of the mediumsized voids of the MSS habitats, such as Campodea grassii Silvestri, 1912, collected in a scree slope connected with a deep subterranean system in Penyas Roset, Prebaetic Mountains. Most species found in MSS habitats are endogean or epiedaphic species living in the area, but this is not the case in Sierra de Guadarrama, where three species (Campodea propinqua Silvestri, 1932, Campodea neusae Sendra & Moreno, 2006 and Campodea zuluetai Silvestri, 1932) unknown in the soil of these mountains have appeared in these

Two new species of the genus Orchesella Templeton, 1836 have been identified following intensive sampling in the Colluvial Milieu Souterrain Superficiel (Mesovoid Shallow Substratum, or MSS) of the Sierra de Guadarrama using Subterranean Sampling Devices (SSD). The data were obtained from the first extraction of the traps between May and October of 2015. During a study of the Collembola taxon, 32 different genera (61 species) were identified. The highest representative genus presence in almost all traps was Orchesella, with two new species. One of the two species described had been misidentified until this study was carried out, indicating that their preferential habitat had not been sampled; the second species had never been identified. The community of the Orchesella species in the Colluvial MSS was investigated, leading to the conclusion that this environment has its own assemblage of characteristic species. The opportunity to study specimens that belong to five species of the genus Orchesella, including three previously recollected, has allowed for obtaining reliable information regarding their macrochaetotaxy. A part of this chaetotaxy is proposed as a useful diagnostic tool for the species of the genus. In conclusion, it can be affirmed that this study has demonstrated that the Colluvial Mesovoid Shallow Substratum (Colluvial MSS) has its own fauna, and it supports the hypothesis that it constitutes a new biotope, at least for Collembola.

Two new species of cavernicolous Collembola belonging to genera Pygmarrhopalites Vargovitsh, 2009 and Pseudosinella Schäffer, 1897 from ¿Cueva del Saliente¿ (Almería, Spain) are described: Pygmarrhopalites crepidinis Jordana & Baquero, n. sp. is characterized by trichobothria A, B and C forming a straight line towards posterior end; Ant. IV with five subsegments; all claws with inner tooth, all empodia with corner tooth, and empodial filaments surpassing tip of corresponding claw; anterior lobe of tenaculum with two apical chaetae; dens with 3, 2, 1,¿, 1 anterior chaetae, and one external posterior spine. Pseudosinella najtae Jordana & Baquero, n. sp. is characterized by the absence of eyes; chaetotaxy R0R1R2011/10/0100+2, Abd. IV accessory chaeta s absent, all claws with four teeth, paired teeth at different level (41 and 52% of claw length from basis), all empodia with serrate external edge, labrum with all chaetae ciliated; labium posterior without M1, with M2rEL1L2, r smooth microchaetae; remaining of labial chaetae (both posterior and anterior) ciliated. In addition one other species was found in the same cave: Troglopedetes absoloni (Bonet, 1931). The explorations of this cave have been carried out by the second author. The ¿Cueva del Saliente¿ is part of a study on cave fauna in Andalusia. In this cave a total of 4453 specimens (38 taxa) have been captured during an annual sampling period (October 2012 to August 2013).

Two new species of the genus Plutomurus, P. revazi sp. nov. from Prometheus and Satsurblia caves and P. eristoi sp. nov. from Satevzia Cave are described, illustrated and differentiated from other morphologically closely related species. A high variability in the number of teeth in the claw, unguiculus and mucro of P. revazi sp. nov. demonstrate that these characters are not useful for species diagnosis. However, dorsal chaetotaxy was shown to be stable character for this purpose. Analysis of DNA sequences for the COI and 28S genes is congruent with species-level groups delimited by chaetotaxy, and provide additional support for chaetotaxy as the most reliable morphological character system to distinguish species in Plutomurus. A key to species of the genus Plutomurus found in Georgia is provided, which for the first time includes characters of the macrochaetotaxy.

Collections made during March-April, 2010, October-November, 2010 and 2011 from different districts of Himachal Pradesh, India, by the Apterygota section of the Zoological Survey of India contained new species of Entomobryoidea. Localities sampled were Solan, Shimla, Kullu, Bilaspur, Kagra, Chamba and Sirmaur districts of Himachal Pradesh. Collections were mainly made using an aspirator from leaf litter, mosses, under stones, flowering garden plants and river embankments, wetlands and rotting logs. Sixteen species were found, belonging to genera: Entomobrya, Himalanura, Homidia, Sinella, Willowsia, Lepidocyrtus (Acrocyrtus), Lepidocyrtus (Cinctocyrtus), Seira, Drepanosira and Salina. Twelve of these have been described as new species.

Se presenta el Taxón Collembola (Arthropoda, Hexapoda). Los colémbolos tienen algunas características que nos permiten aparentemente reconocerlos como insectos salvo por la ausencia de alas y la presencia de apéndices abdominales (quedará claro más adelante que los colémbolos no son insectos, sino una Clase al nivel de los Insecta dentro de la Superclase Hexapoda, incluida a su vez en el Subphylum Pancrustacea, Phylum Arthropoda, Superphylum Ecdysozoa).

Genera in subfamily Paronellinae have been grouped into five tribes, in part based on chaetotaxy. Tribes Bromacanthini, Paronellini, and Troglopedetini are characterized by having rounded scales and reduced or no macrochaetae, and although Bromacanthini harbors two well-differentiated genera, the core genera in tribes Paronellini and Troglopedetini form a homogeneous group where even generic diagnoses were, until recently, unclear. The genera assigned to Troglopedetini (Troglopedetes Absolon, Trogolaphysa Mills, and Cyphoderopsis Carpenter) harbor many species with reduced eyes number, whereas the tribe Paronellini (genera Paronella Schött, Dicranocentruga Wray and Campylothorax Schött) includes species with 6¿8 eyes. Recent analyses of the chaetotaxy of Trogolaphysa and Cyphoderopsis suggest that these genera represent specialized forms related to species in Paronellini. The taxonomy of Troglopedetes, the type genus of Troglopedetini, is based almost exclusively on claw and mucro shape and dorsal macrochaetae pattern, and few details of the complete dorsal chaetotaxy of the species are known. This contribution presents a comparative analysis of the complete dorsal chaetotaxy of two species of Troglopedetes from Spain (one new to science), two new species of Trogolaphysa from the Dominican Republic and Martinique, and Campylothorax sabanus with the purpose of identifying aspects of the chaetotaxy that could provide diagnostic characters for the separation of Trogolaphysa and Troglopedetes, and a new diagnosis for tribe Troglopedetini. The analysis shows that neither the number of chaetae nor its organization or pattern of macrochaeta provides diagnostic differences between Trogolaphysa and Troglopedetes. It is also concluded that the separation of Paronellini and Troglopedetini is not justified. Troglopedetini is here synonymized with Paronellini, and a new diagnosis of Paronellini is provided.

A new species of the Australian endemic genus Australotomurus Stach, 1947 A. morbidus sp. nov., is described from four urban remnants in Perth. Australotomurus morbidus sp. nov. is the first species in the genus found to possess male secondary sexual characters on antennal segment III as well as I. The males of all other described species in the genus occurring in south-eastern Australia have secondary sexual characters on antennal segments I and II rather than I and III. Typical habitats for Australotomurus species are long undisturbed native grasslands and heathland at low and high elevations. The new species extends the known distribution of the genus ca. 2,000 km west. Australotomurus morbidus sp. nov. is the only species in the genus currently vulnerable to extinction because of its restricted distribution to only four localities, all of which are subject to considerable human disturbance. This species was listed as critically endangered when it was known (but not yet described) from only one locality but was delisted a few years later when three other locations for the species were found. The history and records of A. morbidus sp. nov. suggest that listing species using current Western Australian legislation does not necessarily protect vulnerable species. The new species is described here and new records for some other Australian species of Orchesellinae provided, including the first Australian record of Heteromurus major (Moniez, 1889).

The genus Argonychiurus was established by Bagnall (1949) based on the type species Onychiurus perforatus Handschin, 1920. He included Onychiurus bertrandi Denis, 1936 in this newly erected genus, together with O. perforatus.

The present study of collembolan fauna is based on collections made during Aug-Sep 2008 from Ladakh district of Jammu and Kashmir, India, as a part of the "Cold Desert Expedition" of Zoological Survey of India. Ladakh, which means "land of many passes", is in northwestern India, bordering on China (Xinjiang and Tibet), and on its northwest it borders on Pakistan. The collembolans were collected from different parts of Ladakh district. The collections were mainly made through aspirators from leaf litter, mosses, under stones, a flower garden, agricultural fields, an embankment of a river, wetland and sand dunes. For the genera Corynothrix and Himalanura, an artic-alpine disjunction was found. Lepidocyrtus (Allocyrtus) lepidornatus was referred for a third time after 2 previous references from Philippines and Borneo. Seven new species belonging to Entomobryidae family are described: Entomobrya diskitensis sp. nov., E. ladakhi sp. nov., E. choudhurii sp. nov., E. mehtai sp. nov., Himalanura baijali sp. nov., Seira nidarensis sp. nov. and S. hazrai sp. nov.

During preparation of `Capbryinae & Entomobryini¿ (Jordana 2012) for the series Synopses on Palaearctic Collembola (Volume 7, Part 1), many specimens were studied from museums within and outside the study area. Even so some important collections could either not be found or borrowed at the time. One was the Baijal¿s collection,which was rediscovered in the Zoological Survey of India. In the present paper we present the results of our examination of paratypes of the four species of Entomobryadescribed by this author from the Indian Himalayan region. The original descriptions of these species were limited but adequate for that time, and the age of the specimens did not allow observation of all the details necessary for a complete description as currently required, including macrochaetotaxy. Here descriptions of these species are given in more detail , especially regarding the distribution of the macrochaetotaxy, currently considered necessary for the identification of species. The species studied are: Entomobrya kultinalensis Baijal, 1958, Entomobrya longistictaBaijal, 1958, Entomobrya nigrita Baijal, 1958 and Entomobryarohtangensis Baijal, 1958.

Three new species of soil Collembola from cork-oak (Quercus suber) forests located in eastern Sicily (Italy) are described: Neonaphorura alicatai sp. nov., Friesea guarinoi sp. nov. and Arrhopalites antonioi sp. nov..

Mites and springtails are important members of soil mesofauna and have been proven to be good bioindicators of airborne pollutants. We studied the surrounding area of a steel mill located in a mountain valley of North Spain. Previous studies had documented the existence of a pollution gradient in this area due to the emissions of the factory, thus providing an interesting site to investigate the potential effects of pollutants (heavy metals and nitrogen) on soil biodiversity. The density of Acari and Collembola significantly decreased with the increase in concentration of Cr, Mn, Zn, Cd and Pb. Mites appeared to be more sensitive to heavy metal pollution than springtails. Likewise, the density of these microarthropoda was lower in those soils exhibiting higher nitrogen content. The species composition of the community of Acari and Collembola changed according to heavy metal pollution. Significant differences in abundance, species richness and diversity were observed between the communities of the sampling sites. Some species were exclusive of the less polluted sites, while other appeared in the most contaminated ones. This different response of soil mesofauna to pollutants suggests that some mite or springtail species could be used as bioindicators of heavy metal pollution.

Three new species of cavernicolous Collembola belonging to genera Pygmarrhopalites and Oncopodura from five caves at El Maestrazgo (Teruel, Spain) are described: Pygmarrhopalites maestrazgoensis sp. nov., P. cantavetulae sp. nov. and Oncopodura fadriquei Jordana & Baquero sp. nov. In addition five other species have been found in the same caves: Heteromurus nitidus (Templeton, 1836), Pseudosinella encrusae Gisin & Gama, 1969 (second record of the species), Megalothorax minimus Willem, 1900, Protaphorura aconae Arbea & Jordana 1994 (second record of the species), and Schaefferia decemoculata (Stach, 1939) (sensu: Thibaud 1970). The explorations of cave fauna in these cavities has been carried out by the "Associacio Catalana de Bioespeleologia" under the sponsorship of CEMAT (Centro de Estudios del Maestrazgo Turolense).

The systematic study of specimens of Entomobrya from various European museums, private collections and other samplings, allows us to describe several species new of the genus. Specimens from Germany, deposited at the Senckenberg Museum of Natural History Görlitz (SMNG), identified as new species as result of this study, are described: Entomobrya dungeri n. sp., Entomobrya germanica n. sp., Entomobrya saxoniensis n. sp., Entomobrya schulzi Jordana & Baquero n. sp. and Entomobrya dorsolineata n. sp.

This paper is part of the results of a systematic study of the specimens of Entomobrya and related genera from various European museums and other material obtained from private collections. Various new species from Russia and Armenia were identified: Entomobrya karasukensis n. sp., Entomobrya tuvinica n. sp., Entomobrya pseudolanuginosa n. sp., Entomobrya stebaevae n. sp., Entomobrya kuznetsovae n. sp., Entomobrya brinevi n. sp., Entomobrya primorica n. sp., Entomobrya kabardinica n. sp., Entomobrya taigicola n. sp., Entomobryoides sotoadamesi n. sp. and Prodrepanura altaica n. sp. from Russia, and Entomobrya armeniensis n. sp. from Armenia. For the identification and description of these species we used the set of characters proposed by Jordana and Baquero (2005).

A new species of Entomobrya from an urban park in the surroundings of Beijing, China is described. For the differentiation of Entomobrya cheni n. sp. the set of characters proposed by Jordana and Baquero (2005) has been used and compared with all described species. This character set is compared to that other species belonging to the genus Entomobrya.

The systematic study of Entomobrya specimens from different museums in the Palaearctic region and material obtained from other collections allowed some new species of the genus to be revealed. Entomobrya iraqensis n. sp. is described from Mosul, Iraq. For the identification and description of the species, the set of characters proposed by Jordana and Baquero (2005) was used.

In the present paper a new species, Homidia sichuanensis Jia, Zhang & Jordana sp. nov. from West China, is described and figured. The new species is separated from the other Homidia by the presence of macrochaeta p4 on Th. III and the distribution of macrochaetae on A6-A10 areas of Abd. IV. Using the description of this new species, the generalized chaetotaxy for Homidia is described and figured, following Szeptycki (1979) and Jordana and Baquero (2005). Dorsal macrochaetotaxy of all known Homidia species from China are provided. For first time we give the chaetotaxy for H. phjongiangica Szeptycki, 1973 from types, H. sauteri (Borner, 1909) from Japanese material, H. sinensis Denis, 1929 from types, H. socia Denis, 1929 from Japanese material and H. transitoria Denis, 1929 from types. A key to the Chinese species of Homidia with known chaetotaxy are also given.

New species of the genera Entomobrya and Mesentotoma from the Mediterranean Palaearctic region are described: Entomobrya akritohoriensis n. sp. from Greece, Entomobrya luqueensis n. sp. and Entomobrya vergarensis n. sp. from Spain, Entomobrya transversalis n. sp. from Morocco and Mesentotoma hispanica n. sp. from Spain. A new name is proposed for Folsomia potapovi Jordana & Baquero 2008 nec Babenko 2007.

Three species of Homidia, (H. rosannae n. sp., H. sotoi n. sp. and H. yoshiii n. sp.) found among misidentified specimens of the Yoshii¿s Collection at ¿Muséum d'histoire naturelle de la Ville de Genève¿ (MHNG), are described. The similar colour pattern of many species of Entomobryini makes it difficult to identify some specimens, but the use of macrochaetotaxy (Jordana & Baquero, 2005) allows differentiate the species and, for this paper, the description of these three new ones. A comparative chaetotaxy of Homidia Japanese species and a key is given.