An (as usual) skittish Globby

[Paul]

Like most, this globular springtail didn't want to sit still, but instead kept meandering around making it a pain to capture in the best pose... [I]Dicyrtomina saundersi is a small globular springtail around only 2 or 3 mm. It has quite distinctive markings of pale greeny yellow and maroon.[/I] 

 

 

Paul.
 

[Clicker]

You must have eyes like a hawk Paul ! ... Excellent studies ...  Without your photos, over the years, I would  never have even known of the existence  of these minute creatures ...!

[Paul]

1 hour ago, Clicker said:

You must have eyes like a hawk Paul ! ... Excellent studies ...  Without your photos, over the years, I would  never have even known of the existence  of these minute creatures ...!

Thanks Polly. 

It's a crazy world so small... Never fails to fascinate me. And these globbues are among my favourite insects despite the challenges they present.

Paul.

[JamesT]

Amazing little critters.

At first I thought you had done a selective desaturation, but then I saw the lichens were also coloured. You'd think that with that much contrast to the surroundings they'd be very vulnerable to predation.

[Paul]

Their spring (furca) is so strong that predation is not as often as you'd expect. They can detect an approach and this furca literally twangs them away!

Paul.

[Clicker]

What was the black surface that it was on Paul ?

[Paul]

3 minutes ago, Clicker said:

What was the black surface that it was on Paul ?

The lid of our recycling bin Polly.

Paul 

[Clicker]

I thought  it was ... You seem to find them  there regularly  as I recall..

[Paul]

It's the most prolific spot in the garden for them, though I'm sure there will be many other places where they lurk in the dark...

Paul.

[CMunzel]

Excellent as always, Paul. Funny how it has a hairy derrier.

I wonder if we have these in Australia. New to me if we do. 

[Paul]

10 hours ago, CMunzel said:

Excellent as always, Paul. Funny how it has a hairy derrier.

I wonder if we have these in Australia. New to me if we do. 

Springtails are found almost everywhere in Australia in a wide variety of habitats. They are most commonly found on or near the soil surface, usually associated with decaying vegetable matter, in rotten logs, under rocks or the bark of trees. Some species are even found inhabiting the nests of ants and termites.

They are remarkable insects - I really like the globbies!

Paul.