Niallia

Niallia is a genus of springtails belonging to the family Onychiuridae. These small, soil-dwelling arthropods are characterized by their elongated bodies, lack of eyes (they are blind), and specialized mouthparts adapted for feeding on fungi and decaying organic matter.

Niallia species are found globally, with various species exhibiting unique adaptations to different soil types and environmental conditions. They are important components of soil ecosystems, contributing to nutrient cycling and decomposition processes. Like other Onychiuridae, they possess a postantennal organ, a sensory structure on their head used to perceive chemical and physical changes in their environment. They also possess a furcula, a forked jumping appendage, although it is often reduced or absent in some species of Niallia. Identification to the species level typically requires microscopic examination of morphological features, such as the arrangement of pseudocelli (small sensory structures) and the shape of the postantennal organ.