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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Springtails and allies (Collembola) » Globular Springtails (Symphypleona) » Dicyrtomidae » Ptenothricinae » Ptenothrix » Ptenothrix renateae
Photo#1506901
Mason bee pest? - Ptenothrix renateae
Copyright © 2018 Ryan Sepsy

Mason bee pest? - Ptenothrix renateae
Doylestown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, USA
April 4, 2018
Found this tiny insect while cleaning out a block of wood housing mason bees, many of which were parasitized.

Images of this individual: tag all
Mason bee pest? - Ptenothrix renateae Mason bee pest? - Ptenothrix renateae
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Contributed by Ryan Sepsy on 5 April, 2018 - 8:26am
Last updated 5 April, 2018 - 10:14am

Moved
Moved from Springtails and allies.
… Ken Wolgemuth, 5 April, 2018 - 10:14am login or register to post comments

Ptenothrix renateae
Dicyrtomidae. They may inhabit the blocks of wood housing bees, but they will not parasitise the bees. They clean up their house ;-)
This could be an interesting observation. Were the bees present, active? Or were the nest locations empty? In the 1st case it could be a case of commensalism, in which the bees tolerate the presence of the Collembola. As also happens in ant nests. In the latter case it is just the Collembola reusing the empty nests for shelter.
… Frans Janssens, 5 April, 2018 - 10:08am login or register to post comments

 
Commensalism?
In answer to your question, the remaining mason bees haven't emerged yet because it's been too cold.
… Ryan Sepsy, 6 April, 2018 - 9:06am login or register to post comments

 
Thank you
Fantastic information! Much appreciated!
… Ryan Sepsy, 5 April, 2018 - 10:21am login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… Ken Wolgemuth, 5 April, 2018 - 8:58am login or register to post comments

Springtail
family Sminthuridae. Feeds on detritus and plant material; not known to be a pest of bees
… J. H. Epler, 5 April, 2018 - 8:55am login or register to post comments

 
Thank you
Thanks for the ID and info!
… Ryan Sepsy, 5 April, 2018 - 10:19am login or register to post comments

 
Diff between Sminthuridae versus Dicyrtomidae
Check the length of the 4th antennal segment and compare it with the length of the 3rd:
In Sminthuridae, ant.4 is much longer than ant.3
In Dicyrtomidae, ant.4 is distinctly shorter than ant.3
… Frans Janssens, 5 April, 2018 - 10:10am login or register to post comments

 
when was
Dicyrtomidae raised to family rank??
… J. H. Epler, 6 April, 2018 - 7:39am login or register to post comments

 
Check out www.collembola.org
… Frans Janssens, 6 April, 2018 - 3:17pm login or register to post comments

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