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.
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Tags: insect, macro, photography, springtail
Wow, great shots of such an tiny, tiny subject! They actually are kind of cute, and very colorful for such a small insect!
Oh, those are very cute! Have you seen Attenborough’s “Life in the Undergrowth”? He has some simply amazing footage of the mating rituals of globular springtails.
I agree, life of the undergrowth is a great DVD! I got it for Christmas this year! Amazing photos as always and look out before it’s tail springs!
Thanks for the visual, crawling in bug poop
I will think about that the next time in my garden !!
Neat shots btw
Nice shots of a tiny creature — and thanks for the info.
Just a small indication as to their nutrition: they seem, according to latest research, even able to ingest and degrade heavy metals and very toxic chemical elements. THEY ARE USEFUL and, contrary to common belief, don’t destroy flowers or house plants. They are necessary to the ecological balance, may be even one of its essential element. Thanks for the photographs, M.