Pleased that the wind had dropped a bit today, so went to my local churchyard again looking for "variations" in the local Sminthurinus springtail population. I have been seeing some particularly dark forms recently.

Here's a collage from some of today's findings with my thoughts as to type. All the green-background ones are from the same leaf.

1. Some of the reticulate patterning has dark pigment; could be Sminthurinus reticulatus.

2. A juvenile Sminthurinus aureus f. reticulata.

3. An adult Sminthurinus aureus f. reticulata.

4. Possibly a juvenile Sminthurinus reticulatus.

5. Not sure about this one; particularly with abdomen out-of-focus.

6. Possibly an adult Sminthurinus reticulatus.

Canon 5D3 + MP-E 65mm (at 5x) + 1.4x Extender + 36mm extension tube + MT24-EX Flash. Magnification x8. All cropped significantly for the collage.

springtail of sorts - don't know much about these beasts

Springtails on the compost bin rim

Springtail

Size approx 2mm.

Superdomain: Neomura

Domain: Eukaryota

(unranked): Opisthokonta

(unranked) Holozoa

(unranked) Filozoa

Kingdom: Animalia

Subkingdom: Eumetazoa

Clade: Bilateria

Clade: Nephrozoa

(unranked): Protostomia

Superphylum: Ecdysozoa

(unranked): Panarthropoda

(unranked): Tactopoda

Phylum: Arthropoda

Clade: Pancrustacea

Subphylum: Hexapoda

Class: Entognatha

Subclass: Collembola

Order: Poduromorpha

Superfamily: Neanuroidea

Family: Neanuridae

Subfamily: Neanurinae

Tribe: Neanurini

Genus: Neanura

Species: N. muscorum

A big springtail - Pogonognathellus flavescens. Focus stacked using zerene. About 4.4mm body length

Springtail feeding in the treads of an aluminium ladder 6 foot off the ground

Springtail

Springtail Entomobrya intermedia pollen noshing on a yellow bottlebrush flower

shot at 2:1 and cropped- bug about 2mm long- accidently using ISO800 at the time

Not sure what this is

Has been identified as springtail Entomobrya intermedia

Springtails on the compost bin rim

Springtail investigating an Osteospermum flower centre

Springtail- Vertagopus arboreus, on a water barrel

a little moving black dot less than 2mm long

Entomobrya intermedia?

I dont know why this happened, but it appeared that the one on the right was preying on his fallen comrade on the left. The Springtail on the right was approx. 3mm.

I can never get these isotomids right... but that's my best guess until I'm told better. :o)

Globular springtail on water barrel lid - focus stacked from 2 shots using zerene

This is one of the two adults that were on the wood with the juveniles.

Taken in Battle Ground, Clark Co., WA, USA

Back out today in search of these little springtails again.

Canon 5Dmkiii, Fitted with a 2x Entender, Plus a MP-E65, MT-24EX Flash fitted with my diffusers, one handheld shot using a monopod.

Small springtail on a water barrel

Globular springtail - still playing with background colour/reflections with these using a flower behind the subject

Springtails are very small but they give themselves away by jumping around in a demented manner when you disturb their leaf litter. Taken with flash and a 100mm supplementary lens.

A female Orchesella cincta. Seven images combined using Zerene Stacker software.

I found a bunch of these large Poduromorpha springtails under a log a few months ago. They were around 2-3mm long. My best guess would be that these are in the genus Neanura, but I'm not sure.

Found under a Laceleaf Maple Bush on a pot. I am out of practice and I am not able to tell if this is a new one for me. I am hoping Frans or others can help me ID it so I can know if I should take better photos.

Shot at 3.7:1 105EX +65mm ext rings+reversed 50mm and slightly cropped.

Interesting design on it's back as it turns around (see sequence)

Collemboland - In the land of the springtail, is a photo and film project that shows the beauty and diversity of the micro world under our feet, and in particular, explores the amazing world of springtails (Collembola). Currently, the work on the movie with the same title is underway.

watch here > youtu.be/oBP6QyzPiq4

The springtail is the horizontal bug - the other object is an insect poo :).

Springtail about 1.2mm body length

This is the other shot of the hopper I think that works. It suddenly appeared from under a grass blade and hopped onto this leaf. The two extensions are tremendously long and it moves in a wavy fashion similar to a praying mantis. Very small, just look at the leaf vein in the background. I didn't notice the extensions were in a cockscrew fashion until I got back and uploaded the photos. By the way, that's not the name of it, I'm still trying to identify it.

Really love the irredescence on these springtails. A bugger to light well though. This is the first pic of them in two weeks that I like...

Globular springtail series. On a damp sunchair with milk bottle top behind. Focus stacked using zerene

Springtail on fallen leaf

Springtail exploring my water barrel - first day I've seen these about in about a week (been below 0'c)

tucking into some nice lunch

More garden springtails

Been trying to get a shot of this tiny springtail for a while.

Not a very clear shot, but at least shows the amazing colours of this little bug.

Entomobrya intermedia?

Springtail City!

Found on an overturned log in mixed woodland. These springtails are springless.

~1mm

Moana, Lake Brunner, West Coast, South Island, New Zealand.

Springtails congregating on the water in an ephemeral wetland.

Entomobrya atrocincta, juvenile male

Seriously, if there's a smaller one, I wouldn't even be able to see it. I could barely see this one. It was smaller than a millimeter, and only the fact that I was already visually "dialed down" looking for springtails and that it was moving allowed me to spot it. I only hoped my camera could record such a tiny thing, so I took a handful of shots and was delighted to discover that this one came out fairly well.

Frans, is this full grown, or a baby?

Can anyone id? On a threatened site in Strathspey, Scotland.

www.nickybay.com