Journal of Cave and Karst Studies - ISSN 1090-6924
Volume 67 Number 2: 110-119 - August 2005

A publication of the National Speleological Society

The distribution and life history of Arrhopalites caecus (Tullberg): Order: Collembola, in Wind Cave, South Dakota, USA
John C. Moore, Paul Saunders, Greg Selby, Howard Horton, Marisa K. Chelius, Amanda Chapman, and Rodney D. Horrocks

Abstract

Individuals of the collembolan species Arrhopalites caecus (Tullberg) were collected from drip pools within Wind Cave, South Dakota, at Methodist Church adjacent to the Natural Entrance Tour Route and Room Draculum near survey marker NP-39. Specimens were identified as A. caecus using direct interference and scanning electron microscopy. Molecular analysis of the D2 region of 28S rDNA was performed and the sequences were deposited in Genbank (accession number AY239037). We determined that our population of A. caecus reproduced parthenogenetically by successively isolating and rearing eggs through the F4 generation on 9:5 plaster:charcoal media maintained at 21°C, and by the absence of males. Molecular analysis of 16S rDNA for bacterium within our specimens failed to detect the a-proteobacterium (Rickettseales) Wolbachia. Generation times, fecundity, and molt frequency were consistent with other reports for Collembola.

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