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Project Noah Nature School
subclass Collembola
Springtails are fascinating little creatures that used to be considered insects but aren’t anymore. They’re extremely tiny (2-6 mm long), so even though they are among the most numerous animals visible without magnification, people rarely notice them. There are many different kinds of springtails and they are found all over the world, including the Arctic. In extremely cold climates, springtails dehydrate themselves and go into a dormant state to survive the winter. These photos show several different springtails found in the same small puddle of melting snow.
Spotted on Mar 3, 2012
Submitted on Mar 18, 2012
2 Comments
Thanks Misako :) I find that it really helps if they're hanging out on snow or water... at least they stand out. I've never taken a successful photo of a springtail on dirt or leaf litter.
I saw these little guys for the first time on the ski trail when I was in Soda Springs in March--they were so tiny and makes me appreciate your great macro photos even more!