| Pogonognathellus sp. (Paclt, 1944) |
|
|
|
Scientific name: Pogonognathellus sp. (Paclt, 1944) Common name: French name: Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Collembola Order: Entomobryomorpha Family: Tomoceridae Size: 3-7 mm. Habitat: Food: Most of springtails feed on decaying plant materials Reproduction: Geographic area: |
Springtails of the Entomobryomorpha order show a thin and elongated body with segments of different sizes. Springtails of the Symphypleona order are round-shaped, almost spherical. Those of the Poduromorpha order show an oval body, with rounded segments which are all of similar size. There are five abdominal segments. The third one is longer on springtails of the Tomoceridae family. The fourth segment is the longer one on springtails of the Entomobryidae family. The rather long antennae have 4 articles (they are fragile and often broken). Article 3 is the longer one in the Tomoceridae family. Articles 3 and 4 become thinner towards the apex on springtails of the Pogonognathellus genus. They are almost cylindrical on springtails of the Tomocerus genus. |
| [To know more about the Pogonognathellus sp.] [Top] |
|
The small size of these springtails makes it difficult to shoot pictures. In order to get a correct magnification I have used a 24mm lens, mounted the reverse way and with the aperture blocked at F/10. The depth of field is then very short and the picture is not very sharp. I am sure I will be able to do better in the future. However the picture is enough to see that the third abdominal segment and the third article of the antennae are the longer ones. This leads to the Tomoceridae family. The third article of the antennae seems to become thinner towards the apex. This leads to the Pogonognathellus genus. It is possible that this one is Pogonognathellus flavescens with antennae's length not exceeding the length of the body, but the picture is not sharp enough to conclude. |
André Bon September 2020