FEATURES:

 

COMMON NAME:

  • Springtail

MORPHOLOGY:

  • Size Range is less than 3 mm
  • (Williams, 1994 pg. 13-16)
  • The collembola lack true trachea and respire cutaneously over entire body
  • Their water repellent cuticleallows them to float
  • Their bodies are elongated with distinct segmentation or more globular in form
  • Scales or hairs appear to cover the cuticle giving them a pigmentation or type of iridescence
  • Visible structures are the head, 3 thoracic segments, 6 abdomenal segments that contain a collophore, tenaculum and furcula, or spring for jumping on three of the segments
  • Sexual dimorphism is restricted to size differentiation, the males are smaller than the females
  • There are patches of simple ocelli on the head, 1 pair of antennae, and postantennal organ on head for unknown reasons
  • (Williams, 1994 pg. 13-16)

FUNCTIONAL FEEDING GROUP:

  • Chewing or sucking mouthparts for eating decaying plants or animal matter, fungal hyphae, bacteria algae, and spores
  • (Williams, 1994 pg. 13-16) (Hopkin, g.71)