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Photo#1912378
Springtail-zillas  - Pogonognathellus dubius

Springtail-zillas - Pogonognathellus dubius
Amethyst Brook Conservation Area, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, USA
September 16, 2020
I found an upside-down bolete (type of mushroom) during a dog-walk in the woods, picked it up, and turned it over. When I spotted the group of critters, the thought of springtails never entered my head; they were too big! I started taking photos thinking, maybe barklice or something? But then I saw in my photos that they were definitely colossal collembolans. Note the much more typically-sized springtail (i.e. so tiny that I didn't even see it when I took the photo, as is the case with several of my springtail pics) in the upper left-hand corner. Hopefully I'm placing the big ones in the correct species here.

Images of this individual: tag all
Springtail-zillas  - Pogonognathellus dubius Springtail-zillas  - Pogonognathellus dubius Springtail-zillas  - Pogonognathellus dubius Springtail-zillas  - Pogonognathellus dubius Springtail-zillas  - Pogonognathellus dubius

Pogonognathellus dubius
Indeed, with the dark black/blue iridisation and antennae about as long as the body, Pogonognathellus dubius is the best match.
Pogonognathellus is indeed gigantic compared to the usual springtail.
The longest one (antennae included) in the USA is P. elongatus, with antennae distinctly longer than the body.
The more commonly sized Collembola in the upper left corner could be Lepidocyrtus sp.
Great series, Joshua!

 
Many thanks as usual!
Thanks for both the compliment and the ID confirmation Frans! Funny coincidence that you mention Lepidocyrtus; I realized a few days ago that a springtail that I photographed here back in July of 2014 was L. paradoxus. Quality of those photos not remotely as good as these though.

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