On the natural history and ecology of Meinertillidae (Archaeognatha, Insecta) from dryland and inundation forests of Central Amazonia

The life-cycle and ecology of four nocturnal species of Meinertellidae are given and their adaptation from Amazonian dryland to inundation forests is discussed. In primary and secondary dryland forests, Neomachilellus scandens, N. amazonicus and Meinertellus adisi are arboricolous, show no defined reproduction period and juveniles are found throughout the year. In inundation forests of the Rio Negro valley, which are annually flooded for 5 - 6 months, N. scandens, N. adisi and, M. adisi have one generation per year. Annual inundation is considered as the main reason for the acquisition of a seasonal development. In N. scandens, juveniles hatch from previously submerged eggs on the forest floor at the beginning of the non-inundation period and reach maturity after 3 months. Adults propagate in the litter, where females deposit their eggs which are subject to the next flooding. Both sexes subsequently migrate into the trunk/canopy area and perish. N. adisi is restricted to inundation forests and liyes on tree trunks where eggs undergo facultative flooding