Explanation of Names
'Proto' meaning first, 'ura' meaning tail.
Numbers
~80 spp. in 21 genera of 4 families in our area (synopsis below), ~750 spp. in >70 genera of 7 families worldwide
(1)
Family HESPERENTOMIDAE (1 sp.)
Hesperentomon macswaini
Family PROTENTOMIDAE (4 spp. in 3 genera)
Neocondeellum americanum
Protentomon (2 spp.)
Proturentomon iowaense
Family ACERENTOMIDAE (29 spp. in 15 genera)
Subfamily Berberentulinae
Acerentuloides americanus
Acerentulus (2 spp.)
Baculentulus macqueeni
Gracilentulus (3 spp.)
Proacerella reducta
Subfamily Acerentominae
Filientomon barberi
Fjellbergella tuxeni
Orinentomon greenbergi
Tuxenentulus (2 spp.)
Subfamily Nipponentominae
Alaskaentomon (2 spp.)
Nipponentomon (6 spp.)
Nosekiella (3 spp.)
Paracerella americana
Verrucoentomon (3 spp.)
Vesiculentomon (2 spp.)
Family EOSENTOMIDAE (45 spp. in 2 genera)
Eosentomon (43 spp.)
Styletoentomon (2 spp.)
Identification
Traits:
Small
Usually white or cream colored
Head conical
Entognathus, mouth-parts in a pouch.
No Antennae, first pair of legs serve a sensory roll
Immatures have 9-11 abdominal segments, they gain one at each molt. Adults have 12 abdominal segments
Range
Worldwide except polar regions and nival zones of mountains
(1)Habitat
Moist soil/humus, leaf mold, rotting logs.
Food
Decomposing organic matter
Remarks
Can be very abundant; densities of >90,000 per sq. meter reported (in a German forest)
