Sminthurinus reticulatus/Sminthurinus aureus f. reticulata
Globular springtail - Sminthurinus reticulatus, on a fallen laurel leaf.
Sminthurinus springtails are very small (this one ~0.5mm) and I'm seeing quite a few in leaf-litter locally. They are just visible to the naked eye and in my local churchyard (where I do a fair bit of photography), seem to like the underside of damp laurel leaves. I understand that there's a degree of seasonality with these, so I'm photographing as many as I can while they're around.
When I photographed my first Sminthurinus springtails (November 2012), the commonest species locally was Sminthurinus aureus. This is the same size and shape, but lacks the distinct transverse banding seen on Sminthurinus reticulatus. Currently, reticulatus has replaced aureus as the main species locally (in my very un-scientific and un-controlled survey!). I'll follow these "trends" while I can. Before long, I know that the church gardener is going to clear all the leaves away!
It's thought that Sminthurinus reticulatus is a relatively recent "alien" introduction into the UK and it has been recorded in southern England and the Midlands.
UPDATE: (See Comments) Frans Janssens feels that these should in the UK, be described as Sminthurinus aureus forma reticulata, and that Sminthuinus reticulatus should be reserved for those with black pigmentation in the reticulate pattern.
Sminthurinus reticulatus/Sminthurinus aureus f. reticulata
Globular springtail - Sminthurinus reticulatus, on a fallen laurel leaf.
Sminthurinus springtails are very small (this one ~0.5mm) and I'm seeing quite a few in leaf-litter locally. They are just visible to the naked eye and in my local churchyard (where I do a fair bit of photography), seem to like the underside of damp laurel leaves. I understand that there's a degree of seasonality with these, so I'm photographing as many as I can while they're around.
When I photographed my first Sminthurinus springtails (November 2012), the commonest species locally was Sminthurinus aureus. This is the same size and shape, but lacks the distinct transverse banding seen on Sminthurinus reticulatus. Currently, reticulatus has replaced aureus as the main species locally (in my very un-scientific and un-controlled survey!). I'll follow these "trends" while I can. Before long, I know that the church gardener is going to clear all the leaves away!
It's thought that Sminthurinus reticulatus is a relatively recent "alien" introduction into the UK and it has been recorded in southern England and the Midlands.
UPDATE: (See Comments) Frans Janssens feels that these should in the UK, be described as Sminthurinus aureus forma reticulata, and that Sminthuinus reticulatus should be reserved for those with black pigmentation in the reticulate pattern.