Brachystomella parvula is a common and widespread soil species which reaches a length of 1.1 mm. In collections of Collembola extracted from soil cores, the experienced eye can spot Brachystomella parvula with its distinctive bluish or reddish-violet colour and body shape. The empodium is absent from the foot (Fig. 2). The head bears 8+8 ocelli and a PAO (Fig. 3). In cleared specimens, the distinctive mouthparts are highly specific (absence of mandibles; Figs. 4, 5).

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Fig. 1: Furca of Brachystomella parvula collected from Sacrewell Farm, Northamptonshire in January 1978 by Peter Lawrence and Brian Pitkin. The dens has five dorsal setae.

Fig. 2: Foot of leg3 of Brachystomella parvula collected from Rothamsted Experimental Station in February 1926 by W.M. Davies.

Fig. 3: Eight ocelli (A-H) and post antennal organ (PAO) on the head of Brachystomella parvula collected from Rothamsted Experimental Station in February 1926 by W.M. Davies .

Fig. 4: Head of Brachystomella parvula collected from Sacrewell Farm, Northamptonshire in January 1978 by Peter Lawrence and Brian Pitkin. The highlighted area is shown at greater magnification in Fig. 5.

Fig. 5: Detail of mouthparts of the specimen shown in Fig. 4. The tips of the maxillae (max) have a distinctive shape. Mandibles are absent.