Springtail(Dicyrtomina ornata)

This is a tiny but colourful little creature. It is 1.5 mm long!

 

Please view as large !

 

What do you think ?

I've tried to photograph this beatiful creature but without success! Luckily I can see all beauty of these animals thanks to your photos... Well done Krister!

See comment of 20070217.

Dear Krister, after comparing many Dicyrtomina in frontal aspect I have come to the conclusion that it is possible to distinguish D.ornata and D.saundersi even in frontal aspect (thus without seeing the Maltheser cross patch at its butt). Currently I use the colour of the 2nd antennal segment as a key character to distinguish the two species in frontal aspect. If the colour of the 2nd antennal segment is the same as that of the 3rd and 4th, or gradually changes in colour from basis to apex (ending up with the same colour as the 3rd), it is D. ornata. If the colour of the 2nd antennal segment is distinctly lighter (especially at the basis and apex of the segment) then that of the 3rd and 4th, it is D. saundersi. Based on this character, I consider your specimen now as D. saundersi. Sorry for the confusion caused. Kind regards, Frans PS: this is just a hypothesis for now. You might want to keep an eye on this if you meet any more species of D.ornata or saundersi. To see whether or not the character is stable.