brendan.watts89
The origin of my love for springtails. This was my first time meeting one and it left a lasting impression on me.
The encounter which triggered my springtail obsession. I had squatted down to photograph and this gorgeous white myxomycete as it underwent sporulation, and as I brought the slime mold into focus, I noticed an adorably wrinkly, bulbous blue 'blorpo' as they're affectionately called on instagram. immediately I was fascinated, and this fascination turned to incredulity that I'd never heard of these creatures before!
Indeed they were not insects, but an altogether different tiny creature, with a highly sensitised pair of antennae and what appears to me at least to be a rich social and cultural network as well, with complex mating rituals and fascinating everyday behaviour making them not only ideal photography specimens, but also an absolutely adorable and engaging subject to observe in temporary captivity as well.
currently the biggest barrier to understanding is probably the fact that I cannot distinguish between individuals within a group when filming or observing in person. if I can find a way to somehow 'tag' each one, then setting up fixed observation cameras to film would i believe reveal a rich spectrum of complex behaviours.
The origin of my love for springtails. This was my first time meeting one and it left a lasting impression on me.
The encounter which triggered my springtail obsession. I had squatted down to photograph and this gorgeous white myxomycete as it underwent sporulation, and as I brought the slime mold into focus, I noticed an adorably wrinkly, bulbous blue 'blorpo' as they're affectionately called on instagram. immediately I was fascinated, and this fascination turned to incredulity that I'd never heard of these creatures before!
Indeed they were not insects, but an altogether different tiny creature, with a highly sensitised pair of antennae and what appears to me at least to be a rich social and cultural network as well, with complex mating rituals and fascinating everyday behaviour making them not only ideal photography specimens, but also an absolutely adorable and engaging subject to observe in temporary captivity as well.
currently the biggest barrier to understanding is probably the fact that I cannot distinguish between individuals within a group when filming or observing in person. if I can find a way to somehow 'tag' each one, then setting up fixed observation cameras to film would i believe reveal a rich spectrum of complex behaviours.