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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Springtails and allies (Collembola) » Globular Springtails (Symphypleona) » Dicyrtomidae » Ptenothricinae » Ptenothrix
Photo#1927740
Changes with death? - Ptenothrix
Copyright © 2020 Robert R Pearson

Changes with death? - Ptenothrix
Packwood, Lewis County, Washington, USA
December 28, 2020
Size: 3-4 mm
Mite predating probable Dicyrtomidae. I assume a Ptenothrix but the pattern is not right. Can the pattern become altered with predation? A Ptenothrix maculosa was in this local area before this scene, not found after, with the same color scheme. I assume that death relaxes the retinaculum, since the furca is always extended.
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Contributed by OwlBob on 29 December, 2020 - 5:47pm
Last updated 5 January, 2021 - 11:56am

Moved
Moved from Globular Springtails.
… Harsi S. Parker, 5 January, 2021 - 11:56am login or register to post comments

Ptenothrix sp.
Indeed. The snoutmite injects enzymes that kind of dissolve all internal tissues of its victim, so it can suck up the soup... Due to the detoriated skintissue, the characteristic pigmentation pattern is lost. When Collembola die, the furca is often extended because they try to escape with a reflex jump.
BTW, the retinaculum works the other way around : to release the springloaded furca, the rami of the retinaculum has to be brought together (so this requires muscle activity not relaxing of the muscles).
… Frans Janssens, 30 December, 2020 - 11:04am login or register to post comments

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