Springtails at the lakeside
Lord Vetinari
Registered Users Posts: 15,901 Major grins
Springtails just above the water line of my large pond. Sminthurides aquaticus.
Looks like a family outing to the seaside
Brian V.
Looks like a family outing to the seaside
Brian V.
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I'm not sure if it is S. aquaticus or an alternative species but definitely Sminthurides. The small ones are males. Their antennae are superbly-modified as a clasping devices. Closer views would be most welcome.
Harold
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Thanks for the comments Harold and Phil.
Phil - as I understand it the females lift the males off the ground by their antennae as part of the courtship behaviour- the males are half the length of the females (0.5mm vs 1.0mm). Apparently the juveniles practice this courtship a lot.
Brian V.
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The male is probably trying to position the female over the spermatophore he has placed on the substrate (presumably not on water in this case) so that she can receive it in her reproductive pore.
Harold
Update:
They are S. aquaticus. S. malmgreni has a similar lifestyle but has distinct longitudinal dark bands. There is a third species, of which only one has been seen, which has a distinct dark cross on the dorsum.
Harold
Paul.
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How romantic.
But other than that, these are excellent shots.
..
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Brian v.
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Thanks SB
Brian V.
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