Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Photo#160275
big springtail - Neanura magna

big springtail - Neanura magna
Anthony Chabot Park, Oakland, Alameda County, California, USA
December 8, 2007
Size: 5mm
Found under bark of a downed and long dead eucalyptus tree.

Images of this individual: tag all
big springtail - Neanura magna big springtail - Neanura magna big springtail - Neanura magna

Moved
Moved from Morulina multatuberculata.
New species for the guide.

Neanura magna
I checked the pictures again recently, due to the upload of new material by Mark Leppin. Although the specimen resembles Morulina at first sight, it turns out to be Neanura magna. The largest Neanura species in the USA. Sorry for the confusion caused.
It has only 5 dorsally visible abdominal segments. The 6th abdominal segment is completely covered by the 5th.
Note the 'reduced' middorsal tubercles (not reduced in Morulina).
Note also the typical 'triangular' arrangement of the tubercles on the 4th abdominal segment.

 
I'm curious
How you managed to rule out Morulina. Morulina can have both the "reduced" di tubercles and the triangular arrangement of tubercles on the 4th abdominal segment. The area where the PAO would be is not visible in most of the images placed at N. magna on the guide.

 
Check the number of ocelli
;-)

Composed Eyes
In the 2nd photo, if you look closely you can see the ocilli.
It's strange how the springtails have 'composed eyes' where as true insects have 'compound eyes'.
http://www.collembola.org/

 
Indeed, Jonas,
you can see 2 distinct ocelli. Note that the composed eye of Collembola comprises max 8 single eyes.

Moved

Morulina multatuberculata
Nice catch, Joyce!
Morulina is a genus of furca-less members of the family Neanuridae.
The name is derived from the characteristic spherically shaped tubercles the body is covered with.