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Post by danyoh on Feb 23, 2016 18:20:11 GMT -5
I really like the updated title of this post
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Post by WillyCKH on Feb 23, 2016 21:13:28 GMT -5
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Post by peatmoss on Feb 23, 2016 23:44:41 GMT -5
Man, you're getting some really incredible diversity! We should trade cultures sometime this summer! Edit: I just did some light searching, I think that what you have there is a species belonging to the genus Ptenothrix. Check them out on bugguide: bugguide.net/node/view/83749/bgpage
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Post by WillyCKH on Feb 24, 2016 0:04:19 GMT -5
Thanks for the link! So many different types of Ptenothrix! We can trade some for sure
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Post by peatmoss on Feb 24, 2016 0:13:13 GMT -5
Yeah, the diversity of the group is insane. Even within single genera the morphological differences are incredible. collembola.org/ - is a wonderful resource to get an idea of what's what in the springtail world. Another aside (I can't resist!) - here's a close relative of the springtails that's rather interesting - Diplura are one of the four groups of hexapods (along with springtails, proturans, and insects). They're similarly sized to a large springtail, if not a bit longer, and are also soil organisms that are found under rotting logs and leaf litter. This one specifically is a member of the family Campodeidae (haven't gotten ID down to species yet). I found a bunch of them under a log here in Guelph during one of our warm spells, and am actually currently attempting to start a culture of them. They're absolutely fascinating to watch move around, especially considering they're completely eyeless. Diplura - Two-Pronged Bristletails by Gabriel Levac, on Flickr
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Post by WillyCKH on Feb 24, 2016 0:25:00 GMT -5
That's really unique! So they don't jump like springtails?
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Post by peatmoss on Feb 24, 2016 0:29:08 GMT -5
Nope! They're a lot quicker when it comes to crawling, and I think they normally inhabit rather tight spaces, so I'd imagine being able to jump wouldn't be a huge help to them. Here's something else I never shared here - a closeup video of one of my Folsomia candida cultures: www.youtube.com/watch?v=f84CzVQZCig
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Post by WillyCKH on Feb 24, 2016 1:07:31 GMT -5
So nice! How do you culture them?
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Post by peatmoss on Feb 24, 2016 9:36:43 GMT -5
These ones are really easy - I use something along the lines of coconut husk chunks or orchid bark as medium. Lump charcoal also works. They need to be kept very wet (I usually keep an inch of water in the bottom of the containers) and they feed on fungus and some other rotting plant materials. My food of choice for them is couscous, although I'm not a huge fan of the fact that it fowls the water. If you're interested I could send you a culture of F. candida once the weather warms up. They really are a pleasure to keep.
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Post by WillyCKH on Feb 24, 2016 12:55:32 GMT -5
That'd be awesome! Thanks! I like their transparent white body
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Post by Avery on Feb 24, 2016 13:42:40 GMT -5
Does anyone have tropical springtails available for purchase? I haven't looked too closely but there very well could already be some in my terrarium. If not I would love to establish a population. I know that there are Isopods.
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Post by WillyCKH on Feb 24, 2016 20:58:53 GMT -5
Does anyone have tropical springtails available for purchase? I haven't looked too closely but there very well could already be some in my terrarium. If not I would love to establish a population. I know that there are Isopods. I can send you some when weather gets warmer
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Post by peatmoss on Apr 10, 2016 18:33:42 GMT -5
Another two interesting Springtails I stumbled across while I was out collecting: Lepidocyrtus paradoxus - a really odd little (~2.5mm) springtail with incredible iridescence and a mesonotal hump. Lepidocyrtus paradoxus by Gabriel Levac, on Flickr Isotomurus sp. (probably tricolor) - I found these on the water next to the gravel margin of a pond a few weeks ago. Isotomurus sp. (probably I. tricolor) by Gabriel Levac, on Flickr
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Post by WillyCKH on Apr 10, 2016 21:33:27 GMT -5
Nice find!
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Post by dvg on Apr 11, 2016 15:43:56 GMT -5
Peatmoss, you have an an amazing eye, first for finding and then for showing us these wild-caught springtails...some of them being exquisitely beautiful. Thanks for sharing these little treasures. dvg
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