Globular Springtail - Allacma fusca

Color variant

That can certainly make it difficult to identify!

… tom murray, 20 September, 2007 - 11:17pm

Allacma fusca (var. u-signata)

Hi Tom,
seeing your recent contributions of black shiny Symphypleona, I noticed something peculiar: the length of the 4th antennal segment in Allacma is quite short compared to that in Sminthurus.

This specimen is Allacma fusca. Not the normal colour form. But a variant called 'u-signata', after the white spotty U-shaped pigmentation at its dorsum.
In Sminthurus bivittatus the white dorsal pigmentation is not interconnected posteriorly.

… Frans Janssens, 19 September, 2007 - 5:23am

S. bivittatus

Frans, you're really going to town with all these identifications to species. Thanks for all the help!

… tom murray, 1 November, 2006 - 7:35pm

Moved to Sminthuridae

Thanks Frans. It looks like this one has a clear sheath over it's abdomen. Am I seeing that right?

… tom murray, 25 October, 2006 - 8:49pm

Sminthurus bivittatus

Hi Tom. I guess the sheat that you see is an artefact caused by the interaction of the illumination system and the environment.

… Frans Janssens, 31 October, 2006 - 9:33am

Sminthuridae

Hi Tom. The spiny setae remind me of Allacma fusca. But I have never seen it alife and kicking in such detail... Great shot.

… Frans Janssens, 25 October, 2006 - 5:49am

Great detail, Tom!

Boy have I got a case of lens envy! :-)

… Jim McClarin, 20 October, 2006 - 5:00pm

Thanks Jim

I was able to steady the camera pretty good on this one. Although it did take a few shots to get one I liked.

… tom murray, 20 October, 2006 - 7:58pm