Hi,

Thanks for narrowing it down. All shots were taken from above, but I added one where you can see more hairs on the face because the critter is looking upwards. I could try to go back and get some more pics from different angles. However, I'm sure you realize how tough it is to shoot stuff this small.

Thank you!

Thx for adding the extra shot. It is definitely Ptenothrix. New species. We have it currently at www.collembola.org with tentative name Ptenothrix sp.3.

Very cool. I will likely go back and try to get more pictures of other collembola. In general will it be hard to ID with a shot from above? That is infinitely easier to shoot with my set up than from the side.

we can ID them by comparing the dorsal pattern with other specimens of which we know already the ID. But there is a lot of infraspecific variability of patterns... E.g. females and males (may) have a different pattern. Also juveniles (may) have different patterns. As a general rule each instar has its own pattern. Given 5 juvenile and 5 adult male and 10 adult female instars are usually present, you end up with 10 different patterns for male and 15 patterns for female specimens. To sex a specimen we need a lateral shot in which the small abdomen is in focus. But do not worry about this. Dorsal shots are fine to ID specimens on habitus shots based on an educated guess. ;-)