ABSTRACT The spatial distribution of abiotic resources and environmental conditions can vary at small scales within terrestrial ecosystems, influencing the composition of soil fauna. Epiedaphic springtails (Collembola) of a semiarid Caatinga ecosystem were studied to determine if factors related to vegetation structure, such as species richness, aerial biomass, litterfall, and soil characteristics (pH, granulometry and soil organic matter), influence species richness and abundance of this group. A total of 5,513 individuals were collected of 15 species distributed in 13 genera and 9 families. The most abundant species were Temeritas sp., with 2,086 (38% of the total abundance) individuals, and Neotropiella meridionalis (Arlé, 1939), with 1,911 (35% of the total abundance) individuals. None of the variables in the regression model were significantly related to Collembola species richness, but abundance was significantly related to plant species richness, aerial biomass and soil pH. Thus, even at a small spatial scale, habitat heterogeneity influences the epiedaphic Collembola in the Caatinga ecosystem, especially their abundance.

RESUMO Apresenta-se a primeira listagem dedicada sobre a fauna de Collembola do estado do Mato Grosso do Sul. Os resultados mostram que o estado nunca foi inventariado de forma sistemática e as informações sobre sua colembolofauna são resultados de algumas poucas coletas isoladas, totalizando seis registros.

ABSTRACT This is the first dedicated list of Collembola for the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. The results show that the state was never systematically surveyed, the information available about its Collembola come from few isolate collections, amounting six records.

Trogolaphysa formosensis sp. nov. (holotype male deposited in DBEZ from Brazil, state of Rio Grande do Norte State, municipality of Bani Formosa), a new springtail from the Atlantic Forest domain, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, is described and illustrated. This species is diagnosed by unique coloration pattern, presence of 8+8 eyes, reduced number of setae on metatrochanteral organ, unguiculi truncated and dorsal chaetotaxy. Trogolaphysa formosensis sp. nov. is the first species of the genus from Brazil with all eye lenses. All other Brazilian species present 0+0 or 2+2 eyes. It is also the first species of Trogolaphysa described from the Northeast Region of Brazil.

Seira caerucinerea sp. nov. , a new species of springtail from the Cerrado domain, state of Tocantins, Brazil, is described and illustrated. The new species is mainly characterized by bluish-gray coloration and dorsal chaetotaxy presenting macrochaeta S7 on head, three macrochaetae (a6, m6 and p6) on margin of metathorax and 4+4 macrochaetae (a1, m2, m3 and m4i) on abdomen I. Characteristics of maxillary and labial papillae, chaetotaxy of subcoxae, collophore, ventral region of head, ventral and lateral region of abdomen IV and V, which are usually omitted in species descriptions within the genus, are also provided. This is the first species of Seira described from the Cerrado domain, as well as the first record of the genus from the state of Tocantins.

The richness and abundance of Collembola species can be influenced by many biotic and abiotic factors, mainly humidity. The semiarid region of Brazil is dominated by Caatinga dryland vegetation which experiences distinct seasonal alterations of its physiognomy linked to regional rainfall regimes. The present study evaluated the environmental factors affecting populations of Collembola in an area of Caatinga vegetation in Northeastern Brazil during a 12-months period. Specimens were collected by active searching in ten 20 x 20 m plots, with a sampling effort of 1 hour/person/plot. A total of 1231 specimens were collected, comprising 15 morphospecies, 12 genera, and nine families. Both species richness and individual abundances demonstrated oscillations during the year, with the highest values occurring during the rainy season; rainfall was the principal predictive variable for the observed temporal oscillations. Minimum temperatures and precipitation influenced the structural composition of the Collembola. Populations of Collembola demonstrated clustered distribution during the year. The direct and indirect effects of precipitation on the quality of microhabitats and resource availability were apparently responsible for the numerical and compositional alterations of the Collembola fauna observed in the Caatinga site.

A new species of Seira Lubbock, 1869 is described and illustrated. Seiraglabra sp. nov. is the second species described from the municipality of Areia (Caatinga biome) and the seventh from the state of Paraíba, Brazil. Compared with other species of the genus, Seira glabra sp. nov. has some remarkable reductions on dorsal chaetotaxy, specially on the methatorax and first abdominal segment. The most similar species to S.glabra sp. nov. is Seira praiana. Both lack macrochaetae on the first abdominal segment.

Campylothorax Schött, 1893 is a genus of Paronellidae known only from the Neotropical and Ethiopian zoogeographic provinces. Herein a new species of this genus is described and illustrated. Campylothorax mitrai sp. nov. was found in remains of Atlantic Rainforest at Rio Largo municipality, state of Alagoas, Brazil. It is the ninth described species of Campylothorax and the third recorded from Brazil. Campylothorax mitrai sp. nov. can be distinguished from other species of the genus by its peculiar dark blue color pattern associated to a unique set of setae in the labial triangle, where there is a large distinct seta 'E'. This condition is unique among Campylothorax species. Campylothorax mitrai sp. nov. is the first record of Collembola from Alagoas.

A new species of Tyrannoseira Bellini & Zeppelini, 2011 (Entomobryidae) is described and illustrated. Specimens of T. diabolica sp. nov. were collected in Barreira do Inferno, state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. This is the fourth described species in the genus. All males of Tyrannoseira have the femora of the first pair of legs enlarged and slender tibiotarsi, both bearing several spine-like setae. Probably the closest species to T. diabolica sp. nov. is T. sex Bellini & Zeppelini, 2011. They share many similarities in their color pattern and dorsal chaetotaxy.

O estado de conhecimento sobre Collembola no Brasil é deficitário, sendo a maior parte dos biomas pobremente amostrados. Este trabalho tem por objetivo fornecer uma lista de espécies de colêmbolos para o Estado do Rio Grande do Norte. As coletas foram realizadas nos municípios de Extremoz, Natal, Parnamirim e Serra Negra do Norte, por meio da utilização de armadilhas de queda, armadilha luminosa e coleta manual diretamente do substrato. Foram registradas 16 espécies, distribuídas em 12 gêneros e sete famílias. A família com maior riqueza de espécies foi Entomobryidae, com sete espécies. O gênero com maior número de espécies foi Seira, com quatro. As duas únicas espécies registradas na Caatinga também foram observadas nas áreas de Mata Atlântica. Por outro lado, tais espécies são novas para a ciência, o que sugere a urgência de um inventário na Caatinga, domínio ainda subestimado. Foram encontradas cinco espécies novas de colêmbolos no Estado.

The state of knowledge of collembolans in Brazil is deficient and most biomes are poorly sampled. This paper provides a list of species of Collembola from Rio Grande do Norte State. The samplings were carried out in the municipalities of Extremoz, Natal, Parnamirim and Serra Negra do Norte, by using pitfall traps, light traps and direct collections. Sixteen species of springtails were recorded, distributed in 12 genera and seven families. The family with the highest diversity was Entomobryidae, with seven species. The most speciose genus was Seira, with four species. Only two species were recorded in Caatinga and they both were also reported to areas of Brazilian Atlantic Forest. However, these species are new to science, which indicates the urgency of a full inventory in Caatinga, an underestimated domain. Five new species of Collembola were found in the State.

Seira Lubbock, 1869 is the most speciose genus of Collembola in Brazil. Herein, we describe and illustrate a new species of Seira, Seira ritae sp. nov., collected in João Pessoa, state of Paraíba, Brazil, in an urban seaside area. The new species shows many similarities with S. mendoncea Bellini & Zeppelini, 2009 especially in what concerns the dorsal distribution of the macrochaetae of the head, the metathorax, and the first three abdominal segments. However, the two species can be distinguished by the chaetotaxy of the mesothorax and abdominal segment IV. The type locality of the species probably indicates some level of natural resistance to the impacts associated with human activities.

Uma nova espécie de Entomobryidae do gênero Seira, S. paraibensis sp. nov. é descrita e ilustrada. A localidade tipo da espécie é o município de Areia, no Estado da Paraíba, Brasil. A espécie foi encontrada habitando o folhiço e solo superficial de um remanescente de Mata Atlântica. S. paraibensis sp nov. possui muitas similaridades em sua morfologia com S. pseudoannulata. Esta é a sexta espécie do gênero encontrada e descrita na Paraíba até o momento. Uma chave com as 11 espécies de Seira registradas até o momento na Paraíba é apresentada, juntamente com uma lista com todas as espécies do gênero encontradas no Brasil.

A new species of Entomobryidae of the genus Seira Lubbock, S. paraibensis sp. nov. is described and illustrated. The type locality of the species is the municipality of Areia, state of Paraíba, Brazil. The species was found inhabiting the Atlantic forest litter and top soil environment. S. paraibensis sp. nov. resembles S. pseudoannulata in many morphological features. This is the sixth species of the genus found and described in Paraiba so far. A key with the 11 species of Seira registered so far in Paraíba is provided. Also a list with all species of the genus from Brazil is presented.

No presente trabalho são listadas as espécies de Collembola encontradas no Estado da Paraíba, Região Nordeste do Brasil. Os espécimes foram coletados em seis municípios: João Pessoa, Cabedelo, Mataraca, Bananeiras, Cacimba de Dentro e Araruna. Os espécimens foram coletados através do processamento de material em funis de Berlese-Tullgren, armadilhas do tipo pitfall e aspiradores entomológicos. Em seguida foram montados entre lâminas e lamínulas de vidro para identificação sob microscópio. Foram identificadas 54 espécies de colêmbolos, distribuídas em 25 gêneros, em 13 famílias. Entomobryidae foi a mais diversa, com 22 espécies e Seira foi o gênero mais diverso, com 15 espécies. A maior parte das espécies foi encontrada em remanescentes de Mata Atlântica e Mata de Restinga. Foram encontradas 20 novas espécies de colêmbolos e serão descritas posteriormente. Os dados aqui apresentados indicam que a Paraíba é um hotspot de diversidade para o gênero Seira.

In this paper the species found in Paraíba State, northeatern Brazil are listed. The specimens were collected in six municipalities: João Pessoa, Cabedelo, Mataraca, Bananeiras, Cacimba de Dentro and Araruna. The specimens were collected using Berlese-Tullgren funnels, pitfall traps and entomological aspirators. After that they were mounted in glass slides for identification under microscope. It was found 54 species of collembolans, distributed in 25 genera, of 13 families. Entomobryidae was the most diverse family, with 22 species and Seira was the prevailing genus, with 15 species. Most species were found in fragments of Mata Atlântica and Mata de Restinga. Twenty new species were found and will be describe later. The data indicate that Paraíba is possibly a hotspot of diversity for the genus Seira.