OECD 232: Springtail / Collembola (folsomia candida)
The OECD 232: Spring Tail / Collembola Test assesses the effect of a substance on the mortality and reproductive output of the soil-dweller Folsomia candida, which is a hexapod and therefore has a very permeable exoskeleton. Females 9-12 days old are exposed to a standardized artificial soil which has been treated by spraying or mixing, depending on the usual application method for the substance. At 4 weeks surviving adults and offspring are removed from the soil and counted. Mortality is reported as LCx or LOEC/NOEC, and reduction in reproductive capacity as ECx (e.g. EC10 or EC50) or NOEC.