Fuzzy exclamation mark Springtail - Seira bipunctata

Moved

… Harsi S. Parker, 7 February, 2010 - 10:55pm

Seira bipunctata juvenile

Given the small size, a juvenile specimen, and the dots at the posterior part bilaterally at the 4th abdominal segment suggest Seira bipunctata. Adult Seira is covered with scales though and has a more silverish iridisation.
IDing juvenile specimens always remain an educated guess...

… Frans Janssens, 7 February, 2010 - 5:21am

Thanks a lot, Frans !

It's a great pleasure having an expert like you contributing !

So yes, the not-so-obvious dots are indeed important cues.

I guess the exclamation mark are internal organs that are (still) visible in juveniles.

Nogmaals hartelijk dank !

… Emile, 7 February, 2010 - 11:12am

The exclamation mark

The cuticula of Collembola is transparant. In juveniles the colour of the underlying epidermis is not yet fully developed, therefore also transparant. What you see is the gut contents. The 'dot' of the exclamation mark is a faecal pellet ready to be 'released' ;-)

… Frans Janssens, 8 February, 2010 - 4:07am

Thanks a lot for clarifying, Frans !

Exciting to learn more about these tiny creatures.

They remind me of Fairy Shrimp, which are also semi-transparent, showing their dark gut content.
Under the microscope one can see the non-stop wave-like peristaltic movements of their gut slowly pushing out dark pellets.

It's amazing that these near-microscopic creatures have a fully functional metabolic system.

… Emile, 8 February, 2010 - 9:36am

Moved

Moved from ID Request.

… v belov, 7 February, 2010 - 1:23am

Super cute!

Frans Janssens should be able to ID these, so I'd recommend leaving them here for a few days and if he doesn't comment by them move then over to the springtail page.

… Natalie Hernandez, 7 February, 2010 - 12:55am

Thanks Natalie !

I agree that Butterflies might be among the prettiest hexapods, but Springtails are among the cutest !

… Emile, 7 February, 2010 - 11:17am