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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Springtails and allies (Collembola) » Poduromorpha » Hypogastruridae » Hypogastrura » Snow flea (Hypogastrura nivicola)
Photo#512490
Snowflea Paradise - Hypogastrura nivicola
Copyright © 2011 Derek R Westcott

Snowflea Paradise - Hypogastrura nivicola
Tiger Mt., 5 air miles SE Issaquah, elev. about 3000', King County, Washington, USA
March 6, 2011
My identification of these snowfleas was confirmed by Ken Christiansen (99-1 odds!) and Richard Zack. This remarkable photo was taken with a Canon G12 by my son, who lives in Kirkland, WA. I think the mass of snowfleas resembles the "Smoke Monster" from the t.v. show "LOST"!
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Contributed by Richard L. Westcott on 6 May, 2011 - 12:49pm
Last updated 1 October, 2011 - 7:03am

Yikes
Generally not squeamish about bugs or other things that bother most people, but if they were entering my crawl space, I likely would be wondering how long until I have millions of roommates, especially given another Hypogastrura post I saw of somebody saying they were in the beds and on the dish ware.

This behavior... is it known whether it's for reproduction, or massing over a food source, or perhaps sharing body heat to minimize metabolic impact (despite the built-in antifreeze). Curious! (Yes, a few years late to the conversation)
… AnimalGuy, 21 January, 2018 - 2:39pm login or register to post comments

 
Seen this?
Read comments:

"From what I can tell, you’re right that it doesn’t do them any good to be up on the snow..."

An interesting small discussion

https://bugtracks.wordpress.com/2015/03/12/quinquennial-snow-flea-session/
… C, 31 January, 2018 - 12:10pm login or register to post comments

super...
… v belov, 6 May, 2011 - 12:49pm login or register to post comments

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