Sminthurinus reticulatus vs. Sminthurinus aureus f. reticulata?
Recently, I’ve been posting lots of images of “golden” Sminthurinus springtails. Many of these have shown a “reticulate” pigmentation pattern (transverse abdominal stripes with a “Y”-shape at the rear). Frans Janssens has been looking at these and has made the following observations:
Comment from Frans Janssens
"IMHO, we should distinguish Sminthurinus reticulatus and a colour form of Sminthurinus aureus in the UK that resembles the pattern of reticulatus: I would call it Sminthurinus aureus forma reticulata. The difference is the presence/absence of black pigmentation in the reticulate pattern.
In the species Sminthurinus reticulatus, in the reticulate pigmentation pattern black pigment is present.
In the colour form Sminthurinus aureus forma reticulata, in the reticulate pigmentation pattern black pigment is absent." [END]
To help me get a better understanding of the difference, I’ve created another matrix of seven individuals; all with a “reticulate” pigmentation pattern. I’m interested to see whether Frans feels that specimens 1-4 are Sminthurinus reticulatus. The pigmentation bands are definitely darker and the individuals have a generally olive green appearance.
Specimens 5-7 I’m thinking would comply with Sminthurinus aureus forma reticulata in Frans’ revised model. These (to me), have a overall "marmalade" colouration - orange and yellow. (Specimen 7 is a feeding instar, and the colour of the gut contents is making the dorsal pigmentation bands look darker).
Just checking to see whether I’m understanding it all correctly!
Canon 1D3 + MP-E 65mm Macro (at x5) + MT-24EX Flash. All individual images heavily cropped.
Sminthurinus reticulatus vs. Sminthurinus aureus f. reticulata?
Recently, I’ve been posting lots of images of “golden” Sminthurinus springtails. Many of these have shown a “reticulate” pigmentation pattern (transverse abdominal stripes with a “Y”-shape at the rear). Frans Janssens has been looking at these and has made the following observations:
Comment from Frans Janssens
"IMHO, we should distinguish Sminthurinus reticulatus and a colour form of Sminthurinus aureus in the UK that resembles the pattern of reticulatus: I would call it Sminthurinus aureus forma reticulata. The difference is the presence/absence of black pigmentation in the reticulate pattern.
In the species Sminthurinus reticulatus, in the reticulate pigmentation pattern black pigment is present.
In the colour form Sminthurinus aureus forma reticulata, in the reticulate pigmentation pattern black pigment is absent." [END]
To help me get a better understanding of the difference, I’ve created another matrix of seven individuals; all with a “reticulate” pigmentation pattern. I’m interested to see whether Frans feels that specimens 1-4 are Sminthurinus reticulatus. The pigmentation bands are definitely darker and the individuals have a generally olive green appearance.
Specimens 5-7 I’m thinking would comply with Sminthurinus aureus forma reticulata in Frans’ revised model. These (to me), have a overall "marmalade" colouration - orange and yellow. (Specimen 7 is a feeding instar, and the colour of the gut contents is making the dorsal pigmentation bands look darker).
Just checking to see whether I’m understanding it all correctly!
Canon 1D3 + MP-E 65mm Macro (at x5) + MT-24EX Flash. All individual images heavily cropped.