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Protura Proturans

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Higher taxa:  Life   Insecta   IDnature guides: Groups_Insecta, Insect_orders We parsed the following live from the Web into this page. Such content is managed by its original site and not cached on Discover Life. Please send feedback and corrections directly to the source. See original regarding copyrights and terms of use. University of Guelph NC State University Lucid via Discover Life

Kinds

Acerentomidae Eosentomidae Protentomidae Sinentomidae

Overview

Proturans are rare, small creatures. They undergo anamorphosis, in which they add segments posteriorly during development. No other insects undergo this type of metamorphosis. They are found in most areas around the world, residing in damp, dark habitats and feeding on decaying matter and other insects. Another unique feature is the telson tail, which is common in crustaceans but absent in other insects. The telson tail is used for locomotion and for defense.

Identification

Proturans are small in size, less than two millimeters long. They have a delicate and elongate body without pigment. the head is conically-shaped. The eyes and antennae are absent, but there is a pseudoculus (sensory organ) found on the head. The mouthparts are entognathous (exposed) and the mandibles and maxillae are slender. The adult abdomen has twelve segments. The front legs serve as the antennae. The forelegs are enlarged with many sensillae. The legs are made up of five segments. The gonopore is located between segments 11 and 12. The anus is terminal. They lack cerci. (Gullan and Cranston, 2000).

Families

Suborder Eosentomoidea Family Eosentomidae Genus Eosentomon- 14 Species Suborder Acerentomoidea Family Protentomidae Genus Hesperentomon- 5 Species Genus Proturentomon- 4 Species Genus Protentomon- 6 Species Family Acerentomidae Genus Acerentulus- 17 Species Genus Maderentulus- 1 Species Genus Gracilentulus- 2 Species Genus Berberentulus- 3 Species Genus Tuxenidia- 1 Species Genus Acerella- 3 Species Genus Acerentomon- 25 Species Genus Tasmanentulus- 1 Species Genus Yinentulus- 1 Species Genus Kenyentulus- 1 Species (Nosek, 1973)

Names

"Protura" comes from Greek words "proto-", meaning first, and "-ura", meaning tail. This refers to the absence of advanced structures in the tail end of the abdomen. Synonym: Myrientomata (Gillott, 1980) Common Names: Proturans, Telson Tails (Wooten, 1984)

Phylogeny

Taxonomic Category Scientific Name Common Name Phylum Arthropoda Arthropods Class Insecta Insects Order Protura Proturan

Geographic distribution

N.C. State University Entomology Dept. North America Worldwide Number of Families 3 4 Number of Species 20 ~500 Proturans are found all over the world, with the exception of arctic and Antarctic areas. They probably originated in moist, warm areas and later spread throughout the world. Evolution and distribution of Protura have been very slow processes. (Tuxen, 1985) There are four families and approximately 500 species worldwide. In North America, there are three families and 20 species.

Natural history

Proturans hatch as prelarva and are probably immobile. The prelarva has nine segments and underdeveloped mouthparts. There are three stages: protonymph, deutonymph, and tritonymph. The protonymph has nine segments and developed mouth and legs. The deutonymph has ten segments. The tritonymph has eleven segments, lesser setae and no external genitalia. Development occurs in soil or decaying wood. Immature Protura feed on mycorrhyza, moss and litter. (Tuxen, 1985) The adult has 12 segments. The ideal habitat for Proturans is old leaf mold along the edge of woods. Adults feed on decaying matter, and may be found inhabiting with the nymphs for most of the year. (Ross, 1982) Some adults feed another insects by capturing prey with sharp claws and sucking out the insides. The telson (tail) may be used for locomotion but also has been used for defense. Proturans have been observed to curve the tail over the head and discharging a sticky secretion on enemies (Wooten, 1984). Suring mating, the male deposits spermatophores. An unattended female collects the sperm. This is indirect fertilization. (Gullan and Cranston, 2000)>

How to encounter

Proturans can be collected by examining leaf mold and drying it. They can be preserved in 70% alcohol and mounted on slides. (Ross, 1982).

Links to other sites

For more great information about Protura see N.C. State's Entomological site.

References

Gillott, Cedric. Entomology. 1980: Plerum Press, New York. Gullan, P.J. and P.S. Cranston. The Insects: An Outline of Entomology: Second Edition. 2000: Blackwell Science Unlimited. Nosek, Josef. The European Protura. 1973: Museum D¹Histoire Naturelle, Geneve. Ross, Herbert H., Charles A. and June R.P A Textbook of Entomology: Fourth Edition. 1982: John Wiley and Sons, Inc. Tuxen, S.L. Fauna of New Zealand: Protura. 1985: Science Information Publishing Centre, New Zealand. Wooten, Anthony. Insects of the World. 1984: Blanford Press, New York.

Acknowledgements

This page written by Kari McLaughlin, Ecology major, University of Georgia, Athens. Thanks to Sabina Gupta, Denise Lim, and Dr. John Pickering for technical and web support in developing this page.

Following modified from University of Guelph

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Class and Order - DIPLURA & PROTURA (Greek, diploos = two; oura = tail) Common Names: none Distribution: Cosmopolitan Description The Diplura and Protura are primitively wingless orders (not descended from winged ancestors). Protura, which lack antennae and cerci, are tiny and rarely noticed (so I have no photographs to include here!). Diplura can be found under rocks and logs or in the soil, and are small, eyeless insects with two antennae and two tails (cerci). The most common diplurans are elongate, white Campodeidae with long cerci. The somewhat earwig-like Japygidae have forceps-like cerci. Click Here To Go to Back to Main Menu

Following modified from NC State University

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PROTURA Proturans / Coneheads The name Protura, derived from the Greek words " proto- " meaning first (or original) and " ura " meaning tail, refers to the lack of advanced or specialized structures at the back of the abdomen. Classification Life History & Ecology Distribution Physical Features Economic Importance Major Families Fact File Hot Links Life History & Ecology: Proturans are usually regarded as the most primitive of all hexapods.   They have six legs and three body regions (head, thorax, and abdomen), but they lack most of the other physical features that are common to arthropods.   Most species are very small (0.5-2.0 mm) and unpigmented.   They are always found in moist habitats -- usually in the humus and leaf mold of temperate deciduous forests.   Both adults and immatures feed on organic matter released by decay. Proturans do not have eyes or antennae.   The front pair of legs are usually held in front of the body and apparently serve as sense organs.   Newly hatched proturans have nine abdominal segments.   Each time they molt, another segment is added near the end of the abdomen until they are fully grown (and sexually mature) with 12 abdominal segments.   Additional molts may occur during adulthood, but the body does not grow any longer. Distribution: Uncommon -- found in damp habitats usually associated with soil and leaf mold. North America Worldwide Number of Families 3 4 Number of Species 20 ~500 Classification: Ametabola lacking metamorphosis eggs hatch into young which are smaller than adults, but similar in appearance. Apterygota primitively wingless Physical Features: Adults and Immatures Antennae absent Compound eyes absent Head conical, all mouthparts enclosed within the head capsule Pseudoculi present on head (these may be remnants of vestigal antennae) Front legs directed forward (probably sensory in function) Small ventral styli located on abdominal segments 1-3 Abdomen with 9-12 complete segments Cerci and abdominal filaments entirely absent Body unpigmented, usually white or ivory in color Economic Importance: Proturans are primarily inhabitants of forest leaf litter.   They are part of the community of decomposers that help break down and recycle organic nutrients.   None of these arthropods are considered pests. Major Families: In North America, the Protura are represented by three families: Eosentomidae (8 species) Acerentomidae (9 species) Protentomidae (3 species) All of these families are similar in ecology and habitat. Fact File: Proturans were first discovered by Antonio Sylvestri in 1907 near Syracuse, New York.   He found them in samples of leaf litter he had collected for a post-doctoral project on soil-dwelling invertebrates. Proturans do not have eyes or antennae.   The front pair of legs are usually held in front of the body and apparently serve as sensory organs. Two of the three North American families of Protura lack a tracheal system.   All gas exchange occurs through the integument. With only about 500 species worldwide, Protura is the smallest class in the phylum Arthropoda. Hot Links and Illustrations: University of Florida - Featured Creatures Gordon Ramel's Protura Page Ecowatch Protura Page Tree of Life Web Project - Protura Discover Life - Protura Return to ENT 425 HomePage Return to Compendium Index Last Updated:   5 March 2005 Copyright 2005 John R. Meyer Department of Entomology NC State University

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Class and Order - PROTURA (Greek, protos = first; oura = tail) Common Names: none Distribution: Cosmopolitan Description Protura are small, pale, delicate arthropods that generally inhabit leaf litter and the surface layers of soil. They are small arthropods closely related to insects but they lack antennae. The first pair of legs (forelegs) are not used for walking but are thrust forward and are used by the insect in place of antennae. The mandibles are well developed. The eyes are either absent or reduced to sensory spots on either side of the head (pseudoculi). Protura are wingless. The abdomen is elongate with about 12 segments. Nymph Immature Protura are similar to adults but have fewer abdominal segments. The abdominal segments increase in number through moulting and this is termed anamorphosis. Proturans can be found in soil, moss and leaf litter but their biology and ecology are as yet not completely known. Members Proturans. Food Proturans feed on fungi and other decaying organic matter. Importance The importance of proturans is unknown other than the usual roles played by organisms in the forest litter re-cycling system.