Five new springtail species discovered in China

One of the new Lepidosira species：L. montis. Credit: Dr. Yitong Ma

There is a Chinese saying that east or west, Guilin scenery is the best. Guilin and Chongqing, located in western China, are famous for their many mountains and rivers. They also harbor unique flora and fauna, such as the scaly-sided merganser, a globally endangered species restricted to eastern Asia.

In 2023 and 2024, Dr. Yitong Ma from Nantong University, China, collected springtail specimens from the Huaping Nature Reserve in Guilin and the Yintiaoling Nature Reserve in Chongqing.

"Springtails are the most common arthropods living in the soil—you can find them in your yard, in the flowerpot or on the lawn," he says. "Although they are very small, usually 2–3 mm in length, their density can be amazing. As decomposers, they can break down organic matter and promote material cycling, so they play an important role in soil ecosystems."

After checking the specimens from the two reserves under microscopes, Ma and his colleague from Nantong University, Xiaowei Qian, found rich biodiversity and about 80 different species of springtails. In a study published in ZooKeys , they describe five new scaled species belonging to three genera of the springtail family Entomobryidae.

The new species of Lepidodens: L. maculata. Credit: Dr. Yitong Ma

Habitus of Lepidosira guilinensis. Credit: Dr. Yitong Ma

The genus Lepidodens contains five species, all found in China. The researchers found one new species, which is also the first species of the genus from western China.

They also report the first sighting in China of the genus Lepidosira , which thrives best in Oceania. In Huaping Nature Reserve and Yintiaoling Nature Reserve, they found three new species of the genus.

Among the 50 species of the genus Willowsia in the world, about 30 species have been reported from China. However, the authors concluded this genus is not well represented in the two reserves and found only one new species in Chongqing.

In the future, the researchers will further study those specimens collected from the two reserves. "Given the subtropical monsoon climate, mountainous topography and little human disturbance of the reserves, it is likely that more new species will be found," they say.

Publication details

Xiao-Wei Qian et al, Five new species of Entomobryinae (Collembola, Entomobryidae) from China, ZooKeys (2026). DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1275.158254

Who's behind this story?

Sadie Harley

BSc Life Sciences & Ecology. Microbiology lab background with pharmaceutical news experience in oil, gas, and renewable industries.

Full profile →

Robert Egan

Bachelor's in mathematical biology, Master's in creative writing. Well-traveled with unique perspectives on science and language.

Full profile →

Citation :

Five new springtail species discovered in China (2026, June 18)

retrieved 18 June 2026

from https://phys.org/news/2026-06-springtail-species-china.html

This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no

part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.