In the forested foothills of Sukna in the Kurseong subdivision alone, 21 species of springtails are found. The number falls with altitude.

Darjeeling is home to the highest number of species of springtails, a wingless insect that helps in soil formation, in the country.

A recent study by Zoological Survey of India scientists says 32 species of springtails (Collembola), more than 10 per cent of the total found in India, is present in the hill district of north West Bengal.

“Springtails play a very important role in soil fertility. Springtails are the only insects that are as important as bacteria and fungi in the breakdown of leaf litter and organic soil formation,” Gurupada Mandal, a scientist who took part in the three-year study, told The Hindu.

In the forested foothills of Sukna in the Kurseong subdivision alone, 21 species of springtails are found. The number falls with altitude.

“We have conducted surveys in different part of the country, including the Northeast, and have found springtails there as well, but never such a high concentration of so many species as in Darjeeling,” Mr. Mandal says.

The soil too becomes rich, providing enormous scope for cultivation of various crops. It is an indication of rich biodiversity, the scientists say.

ZSI Director K. Venkataraman said springtails were a unique kind of insect, which, by using binoculars, could be seen to jump on the soil surface.

They were tiny with sizes varying from 0.25 mm to 6 mm, barely seen with naked eyes.

“While we have considerable information on winged insects, not much is known about non-winged insects such as springtails,” he said.

Beneficial
Usually, people perceive insects as harmful; however, there are insects such as springtails which, are in fact, beneficial for human beings as they circulate nutrients in the soil, Mr. Venkatraman said adding that the country required more such studies.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Other States / by Shiv Sahay Singh / Kolkata – October 12th, 2014