Three new species of Entomobryidae (Collembola) from Romania, including a synanthropic Willowsia species

This study describes three new species of Palaearctic Collembola — Entomobrya cezarae sp. nov., E. antoniae sp. nov., and Willowsia solanella sp. nov. — collected in Romania. The genus Entomobrya, one of the most diverse and taxonomically challenging groups of Collembola, has long been affected by incomplete historical descriptions. Recent advances in macrochaetotaxy-based methodologies, particularly those developed by Jordana and collaborators, have significantly improved species diagnoses and clarified the taxonomy of the tribe Entomobryini.

In addition, recent global revisions further emphasize the need for standardized morphological terminology. The genus Willowsia, comprising 44 species with a worldwide distribution and characterized by distinctive scales, is here supplemented by the description of a new species. These findings contribute to a more robust understanding of the diversity of Palaearctic Entomobryidae.