Species of Willemia are small, white, blind, soil- or sand-dwelling Collembola which have no trace of a furca. Willemia intermedia (0.7 mm) has two tiny anal spines (Fig. 1). The PAO is relatively large with four triangular vesicles (Fig. 2). There are 3+3 setae along the midline of abd4 (Fig. 3) and seta p2 on abd5 is absent. Willemia intermedia is only known for certain from two specimens collected by Harold Gough from Jealotts Hill Research Station near Reading (they are in the NHML collection). There is one other record from Oakpark, Co. Carlow in Ireland reported by Bolger (1986) but I have not seen the specimen(s). This tiny species is sure to be found in other sites, especially in dry situations.

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Fig. 1 (above): Tiny anal spines of Willemia intermedia collected from Jealotts Hill, Berkshire in October 1970 by Harold Gough.

Fig. 2 (above): Four-lobed (1-4) post-antennal organ of Willemia intermedia collected collected from Jealotts Hill, Berkshire in October 1970 by Harold Gough.

Fig. 3 (above): Dorsal side of the mid region of the fourth abdominal segment of the same specimen of Willemia intermedia shown in Fig. 2. There are 3+3 setae (a1, m1, p1).