Field studies and laboratory investigations based upon cultures, isoenzyme electrophoresis and RAPD-PCR were carried out to get a better understanding of the value of morphospecies within the genus Mesaphorura.

Culturing of seven Mesaphorura species under constant as well as variable conditions provided a basis for evaluation of morphological characters, but did not yield any statistically supportable evidence that intraspecific variability reached interspecific delimitations.

In enzyme tests, esterases gave the best results. The search for species-specific band patterns is, however, time and material consuming. DNA investigations using RAPD-PCR resulted in band patterns that appeared to be species specific. Nevertheless, these require further investigations.

None of the studies carried out gave any conclusive evidence for invalidation of the morphologically defined species of the genus Mesaphorura.