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The incredible springtail

One of the “new” bugs I have encountered since getting involved in macro photography is the springtail. These are fascinating, but tiny little creatures. Until I had a macro lens, I would just see some tiny little bug but I had no idea what they were nor what they truly look like.

Springtails are among the most numerous and important bugs on earth. They live everywhere on earth and have one of the highest concentrations of any non-microscopic creature. In some areas they average 100,000 per square meter of soil! In fact, springtails are one of the primary drivers behind soil. They chew down different fungi and their excretions make up an important element of soil. So yes, the next time you crawl in the dirt you are really crawling in springtail poop. J They are also extremely important as prey for a number of other insects. So without further ado, here is the springtail.

You may not agree, but I think they are cute little buggers. Actually, there is a growing consensus that springtails are not insects at all, but they are considered to have different evolutionary development than the rest of insects, according to the Wikipedia article. The scientific name for springtail is the order collembola. This particular springtail is called a “globular springtail” and is in the suborder symphpleona.

Photographing springtails can be quite a challenge because they are so small. I have to use 5x for all springtails and I really wish that I could get above 5x for many of them. Many of them are quite patient for photographing, but it can be challenging getting them in the viewfinder. The following is a recent shot I did.

I suspect that these varieties are not the ones so prevalent in the soil. I am currently unsure what their exact diet is, though I suspect it is also different types of fungi. I really wish I knew more about these particular springtails, so if anyone has more information it would be appreciated.

Related posts:

1. To be a springtail, or not to be a springtail A few days ago while examining my patio furniture for more insects after my last find, I found some interesting critters on a chair cover.  My first reaction is it’s a springtail, but I’m not entirely sure. It certainly looks like a springtail, but I couldn’t find any pictures resembling...
2. An invasion of springtails! This weekend I decided to check around my backyard again for some interesting shots.  I have grown to know my yard very well - with a good idea of what I can find where.  It’s not a very large yard at 10,000 sq ft and it’s in the center of...
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4. It’s freezing here! OK, perhaps I have lived in the Pacific Northwest too long, because I should not be surprised at snow in April, which was very common in upstate New York where I grew up.  However, here it is a very strange phenomenon to be so cold and receive snow that actually...
5. A day of ducks and bugs Last week I decided to spend some time photographing the ducks by building 30.  I felt a bit strange, as the last time I took the time to photograph ducks, I had just bought my camera.  I find it rather humorous how every photographer seems to start with ducks.  They...

Tags: insect, macro, photography, springtail