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#mesofauna

Frank Ashwoodfrankashwood@flipping.rocks
2025-03-04

Now Bug of the Year is over, normal service can resume!

Here's an incredibly feathery velvet mite (Chyzeriidae) from New Zealand. These active predators wander the forest floor, looking for springtails to ambush and drink dry using their piercing mouthparts! Beautiful but deadly.

#Invertebrate #Macrophotography #Entomology #Acarology #Acari #SoilBiodiversity #SoilEcology #Mesofauna #Arthropod

A photograph of a large red mite, with a soft body covered in long feathery digitation on its back.
Frank Ashwoodfrankashwood@flipping.rocks
2024-11-18

As giant springtails age, they grow more robust and develop longer spikes on their antennae and backs.

Nobody knows how long they can live for, probably a few years, but this gnarled Holacanthella duospinosa has all the hallmarks of a long innings!

#SoilBiodiversity #SoilEcology #SoilFauna #Mesofauna #Macrophotography #Collembola #Entomology #NaturePhotography

A photograph of a giant springtail - a soft bodied, blue invertebrate with long yellow spines covering its body. The springtail is walking on the moss-covered surface of a decaying log.
Frank Ashwoodfrankashwood@flipping.rocks
2024-10-23

Here's another beautiful springtail from my recent macrophotography trip out in the NZ bush.

There's so many stunning soil invertebrates here in Aotearoa, and most are still unknown to science. Hopefully through my research and photography I'll be able to help change that, even a little bit...

#Macrophotography #SoilBiodiversity #SoilEcology #Entomology #Collembola #MesoFauna

A photograph of a purple springtail with long hairs on its back, feeding on a green biofilm on a bracket fungi.
Frank Ashwoodfrankashwood@flipping.rocks
2023-12-14

It's almost time for the Entomological Society of New Zealand's 'Bug of the Year' 24 contest!

There's 20 worthy competitors, but only one obvious champion - the Globular Springtail. Join me on #TeamGlob2024 this January and vote to spring these tiny heroes to victory!

bugoftheyear.ento.org.nz/

#Collembola #Springtail #Mesofauna #TeamGlob

An image of a vividly patterned globular springtail, with text that says 'oh. my. glob.'
Frank Ashwoodfrankashwood@flipping.rocks
2023-10-05

This stunning, flat-bodied springtail is in the genus Platanurida, and can be found in old-growth beech forests in Aotearoa New Zealand.

That flattened body is perfect for helping them squeeze under loose bark and into cracks on deadwood to escape predators!

#Macrophotography #Collembola #Mesofauna #SoilFauna #SoilBiology

A photograph of a flat-bodied blue springtail crawling on a piece of deadwood.
Leonardo Saravialarysar@ecoevo.social
2023-09-29

Al fin publicado!

#trophic #mesofauna #microarthropods

sciencedirect.com/science/arti

Frank Ashwoodfrankashwood@flipping.rocks
2023-08-14

It turns out that you can travel to the other side of the world and Neanura muscorum are still gonna be right there with you, in all their cuteness.

#Macrophotography #SoilEcology #SoilFauna #Springtail #Collembola #Mesofauna

A photo of a pair of blue-grey, very hairy and lumpy springtails, covered in water droplets.
Frank Ashwoodfrankashwood@flipping.rocks
2023-07-22

Another stunning springtail (check out the setose ventral tube!) from Port Hills in Christchurch (Entomobryoidea, possibly family Paronellidae).

Does anyone know of a modern ID key to Collembola in New Zealand?

I can't find a contemporary key, so I've started writing one... help?!

#Macrophotography #Springtail #Collembola #Mesofauna #SoilEcology #SoilFauna

A photograph of a slender springtail with long antennae and a row of tall setae on its dorsal thorax.
Frank Ashwoodfrankashwood@flipping.rocks
2023-07-17

My first macrophotography venture in New Zealand was extremely productive, starting with this absolutely STUNNING Dicyrtomidae springtail, known as Calvatomina superba.

Just look at that patterning and those orange eye plates!

#Macrophotography #Collembola #Springtail #SoilEcology #SoilFauna #Mesofauna

A photograph of a brightly multicolour patterned globular springtail in profile.
Frank Ashwoodfrankashwood@flipping.rocks
2023-07-15

I was out on a coastal hike on Banks Peninsula / Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū today, and found this amazing Katiannidae species of springtail. I can’t find a species match (REALLY wish I’d had my macro camera with me), any ideas on an ID, springtail folks?

#Collembola #Springtail #Mesofauna #SoilEcology #SoilBiodiversity

A poor quality phone photograph of a small, round-bodied springtail with yellow, orange and black patterning on itA poor quality phone photograph of a small, round-bodied springtail with yellow, orange and black patterning on itA poor quality phone photograph of a small, round-bodied springtail with yellow, orange and black patterning on it
Frank Ashwoodfrankashwood@flipping.rocks
2023-07-12

Don't mind me, I'm just doing my bit for #HotSpringtailSummer up in the Northern Hemisphere.

#SoilEcology #SoilFauna #Mesofauna #Collembola #Springtail #Macrophotography

A photograph of a small, purple springtail sitting at the top of a clump of moss leaves.A photograph of a large, round-bodied green springtail sitting on a clump of moss leaves.A photograph of a small, yellow springtail sitting halfway up a grass stalk.A photograph of a small, yellow springtail sitting at the top of a clump of moss leaves.
Frank Ashwoodfrankashwood@flipping.rocks
2023-06-03

Sometimes with macrophotography things just line up perfectly, as with this photo of a globular springtail (a female Stenacidia violacea) on some moss.

Have a great weekend everyone!

#SoilBiodiversity #SoilFauna #SoilBiota #Collembola #Springtail #SpringtailSaturday #Macrophotography #Mesofauna

A photograph of a vivid purple globular springtail crouched at the top of a piece of moss
Frank Ashwoodfrankashwood@flipping.rocks
2023-05-28

And finally, in another first for me, a predatory prostigmatid mite (Eupodidae sp.) running around on the water surface like that's no big thing! I certainly didn't know they could do that... did you?

#Mite #Acari #Mesofauna #Macrophotography #SoilBiodiversity

A photograph of a pink and brown, heavily patterned soft-bodied mite walking on the surface of the water.
Frank Ashwoodfrankashwood@flipping.rocks
2023-05-28

Followed up with an adorable young male Deuterosminthurus pallipes (and it's the first time I've seen this species)!

#Collembola #Springtail #Macrophotography #Mesofauna #SoilBiodiversity

A photograph of a semi-transparent yellow globular springtail walking on the water surface.A photograph of a semi-transparent yellow globular springtail walking on the stem of a pond plant.A photograph of a semi-transparent yellow globular springtail walking on the stem of a pond plant.A photograph of a semi-transparent yellow globular springtail walking on the stem of a pond plant.
Frank Ashwoodfrankashwood@flipping.rocks
2023-05-28

You don't always need to turn over a log or rock. Here's a thread of curious mesofauna I found on the surface of my pond this weekend!

First up are these incredibly sweet, bright purple Isotomurus palustris nymphs, plus an adult one at the end for good measure...

#Collembola #Springtail #Macrophotography #Mesofauna #SoilBiodiversity

A photograph of a tiny, bright purple springtail nymph walking on the surface of some water.A photograph of a tiny, bright purple springtail nymph walking on the surface of some water.A photograph of a tiny, bright purple and yellow springtail nymph walking on the surface of some water.A photograph of a heavily patterned bright purple and yellow adult springtail walking on the surface of some water.
Frank Ashwoodfrankashwood@flipping.rocks
2023-05-26

A predatory mite (family Bdellidae) doing what it does best - feeding on a springtail. Having a mite skewer your head with its pointed chelicerae isn't the nicest way to go, but fascinating to observe!

#SoilFauna #SoilEcology #Mesofauna #SoilBiodiversity #Macrophotography #Acari #Collembola #Mite #Springtail

A photograph of a soft-bodied mite with piercing mouthparts, impaling the head of a springtail, surrounded by moss.
Frank Ashwoodfrankashwood@flipping.rocks
2023-05-23

For #InternationalBiodiversityDay I'll look beyond the soil, and showcase the amazing water-living springtail Podura aquatica.

Their adaptations for a life on the water surface include a flattened jumping organ, hydrophobic cuticle, and depositing their spermatophores and eggs on water!

#Collembola #Springtail #Mesofauna #Macrophotography #Biodiversity #SoilBiodiversity #SoilFauna #SoilEcology

A photograph of a blue-grey, squat springtail on the surface of a wet leaf.
Frank Ashwoodfrankashwood@flipping.rocks
2023-05-19

Here's something you never see - a proturan's gut contents!

The jury is still out on what exactly these tiny (less than 1.5 mm long) soil invertebrates feed on - most likely decaying organic materials and fungal hyphae...

Have a tasty weekend, everyone!

#Macrophotography #SoilFauna #SoilBiodiversity #SoilEcology #SoilBiodiversity #Proturan #Mesofauna

A photograph of a transparent yellow invertebrate with a cloudy mass inside it, walking on the soil surface.
Frank Ashwoodfrankashwood@flipping.rocks
2023-05-15

I was out doing some macrophotography last week and saw this gorgeous Proturan! These tiny (<2mm) critters are also called coneheads, and are very poorly understood.

#Macrophotography #SoilFauna #SoilEcology #SoilBiodiversity #Mesofauna #Proturan

A photograph of semi-transparent and yellow invertebrate crawling on the surface of some dead wood.
Frank Ashwoodfrankashwood@flipping.rocks
2023-04-30

I'm hoping it's better late than never for #InverteFest, with this photo of a beautiful globular springtail (Dicyrtomina saundersi)!

#SoilFauna #SoilEcology #SoilBiodiversity #Mesofauna #Springtail #SpringtailSunday #MacroPhotography #Collembola

A photograph of a yellow and purple patterned globular springtail walking on the surface of a stone.

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