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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Springtails and allies (Collembola) » Poduromorpha » Onychiuroidea » Onychiuridae
Photo#369451
Snowmelt pollen
Copyright © 2010 WS Lesan

Snowmelt pollen
Scaly, NC, Macon County, North Carolina, USA
February 4, 2010
Size: approx 2mm
020310. These insects first appeared as pollen on melt water from snow and ice atop Scaly Mountain, NC, N35 02.161 W83 17.078, elevation 4,800 feet. A closer look proved they were small insect larvae each about 2mm in length. Temps were around 40°F but at the surface of the rocks temps from the sunlight were much higher. Many were dead and simply floating on the water while others were crawling in the dead or dormant mats of Twisted-hair Spike Moss (Selaginella tortipila).

Images of this individual: tag all
Snowmelt pollen Snowmelt pollen
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Contributed by WS Lesan on 4 February, 2010 - 2:26pm
Last updated 6 February, 2010 - 9:36am

Moved
Moved from Springtails and allies.
… Andrew Williams, 6 February, 2010 - 9:36am login or register to post comments

Onychiuridae, possibly Hymenaphorura cocklei
Well done, Andrew.
It is not possible to ID up to genus level with any certainty, since we cannot see the diagnostic characters on this picture.
I noticed some individuals with anal spines. So it could be Protaphorura but also in Onychiurus anal spines can be present...
Based on the yellow body colour of the still living specimens, and the snow habitat, it could indeed also be Hymenaphorura cocklei, aka the golden snowflea.
… Frans Janssens, 6 February, 2010 - 2:46am login or register to post comments

Moved for enhanced expert exposure
Moved from ID Request.
… v belov, 4 February, 2010 - 8:38pm login or register to post comments

look like Springtails
of some kind to me. Best to wait for experts though. It's an area I know nothing about.
Welcome to Bugguide!
… Andrew Williams, 4 February, 2010 - 2:39pm login or register to post comments

springtails
Collembola.
… Blaine Mathison, 4 February, 2010 - 2:38pm login or register to post comments

 
springtail
Thanks Andrew and Blaine. What do you think about Anurida granaria or other Anurida species?
… WS Lesan, 4 February, 2010 - 6:12pm login or register to post comments

 
..
The shape certainly looks similar. I saw some posts where the body segment number was helpful in categorizing. It might be helpful if you can isolate one individual that can be seen clearly and post a tight crop of it.
… Andrew Williams, 4 February, 2010 - 6:24pm login or register to post comments

 
I would like to invite you
to test our Key to the Collembola of North America. Currently up to the level of the families:
collembola.org/key/bugguide.htm

Hint: it is not Anurida.
… Frans Janssens, 5 February, 2010 - 5:35am login or register to post comments

 
? Family Onychiuridae ? Genus Hymenaphorura ?
I have no confidence in this answer, but here goes anyway...
… Andrew Williams, 5 February, 2010 - 9:17am login or register to post comments

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