Springtail - Tomocerus vulgaris

Thanks Frans

It was one of the larger springtails, at 3.4mm. Does that help in determining if it's T. vulgaris, like you are leaning towards?

… tom murray, 27 November, 2006 - 3:38pm

Given the purpleish scales...

are not due to artificial illumination side-effects, I would stick to T. vulgaris. Adult T. vulgaris is between 4 to 6 mm. Given a size of 3.4 it could be a pre-adult instar.

… Frans Janssens, 28 November, 2006 - 6:46am

Tomocerus vulgaris

Hi Tom. Although the specimen is quite damaged, the dental spines array is visible: from left to right: SsSsSS (S=large spine, s=set of small spines). This pattern matches for both T.minor and T.vulgaris.
The scales cover is severily damaged revealing the uniform orangeyellow body colour.
The dark purplish black scales on the abdomen suggest that it is T. vulgaris. In case the purple colouration is caused by your illumination, and the scales really give a more blue colour it could be T.minor.
Do you recall the size of this specimen?

… Frans Janssens, 27 November, 2006 - 11:50am

Furcula.

That is the "furcula," the appendage they use to jump with, and that gives the insect its common name. It is normally retracted beneath the insect, though.

… Eric R. Eaton, 19 May, 2006 - 2:46pm

Thanks for the explanation Eric

So that's what a furcula looks like.

… tom murray, 19 May, 2006 - 6:30pm

Furca is damaged

Hi Tom. Pls, note that this furca is quite damaged. The two arms, dentes, are not equally long. The furca should be symmetric in an undamaged form. Note that this specimen is a Tomocerus, family Tomoceridae.

… Frans Janssens, 5 July, 2006 - 7:18am

Tomocerus sp.

Frans, thanks for the ID and the explanation about the furca.

… tom murray, 5 July, 2006 - 7:23am

Dental spines

Hi Tom. Allow me to give you some additional credit for this sharp image. At the base of the long arm, dens, of the furca, you can see on the inner side of the dens, some darkbrown array of spots. These are the socalled dental spines. The dental spine array pattern is used to identify the specimens to species level.

… Frans Janssens, 5 July, 2006 - 7:42am