Species of Willemia are small, white, blind, soil- or sand-dwelling Collembola which have no trace of a furca. Willemia anophthalma (0.7 mm) is the most common species of Willemia with anal spines (Fig. 1) in Britain and Ireland. The PAO is relatively large with usually five (Fig. 2; rarely four or six) rounded lobes. There are 3+3 setae along the midline of abd4 (Fig. 3) and seta p2 on abd5 is present. The foot possesses a small empodium (Fig. 4). Willemia anophthalma is probably widely distributed throughout.

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Fig. 1 (above): Anal spines of Willemia anophthalma collected from Lliw Reservoir, Glamorgan in January 1962 by Ian Healey.

Fig. 2 (above): Five-lobed (1-5) Post-antennal organ of the same specimen of Willemia anophthalma shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 (above): 3+3 central setae on the fourth abdominal segment (abd4) of the same specimen of Willemia anophthalma shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 (above): Foot of leg3 of the same specimen of Willemia anophthalma shown in Fig. 1. There is a small empodium (emp).