New book: Fauna of Collembola (Hexapoda: Collembola) from the Republic of Moldova

The volume “Fauna of Collembola (Hexapoda: Collembola) from the Republic of Moldova” includes the results of faunal studies, which have been conducted by doctor habilitat, assistant professor Galina Bușmachiu on the representatives of the class Collembola (Hexapoda) on the territory of the Republic of Moldova during almost 30 years of scientific activity.

Collembola are some of the oldest known organisms in the World, which fossils date back about 400 million years, attesting to their presence on Earth since the Paleozoic era (Devonian period). The representatives of the class Collembola (Hexapoda) are numerically dominant group in diverse habitats on the Earth. They can be collected throughout the year in the most habitats and in different climatic conditions, but their most important capacity is participation in the processes of soil formation, in the recycling of matter and energy in nature.

The first description of Collembola dates back to the 18th century, and the last updated list on the web includes over 9000 species from the entire World. More than 350 naturalists and colembologists from all countries have been involved in the study of this group since 1743.

Collembola differ from insects by their longevity, some of them live up to 5 years, and their ability to be active in winter is due to the presence in the body of a special liquid similar to an antifreeze. Synthesized in the laboratory conditions, this liquid is used in medicine for preserving organs for transplantation.

The volume includes 270 species that belong to 98 genera and 19 families, of which about 250 are identified by the author for the first time in the Republic of Moldova, and 14 species have been described as new for science in collaboration with well-known European specialists. 

The book is designed as a methodological support for the study of a large and little known group of invertebrates in the Republic of Moldova, the importance of which has long been ignored.  It is intended for zoologists, entomologists, ecologists, specialists in environmental and forest protection.

To download the book, access the compartment New publications.

Galina Bușmachiu