#giant springtail

[onenicebugperday]

Giant springtail, Tetrodontophora bielanensis, Onychiuridae

Found primarily in central Europe

Photos 1-3 by sympiotr and 4 (for scale) by antsczech

[animalids]

Giant springtail (Holacanthella paucispinosa)

Photo by Gil Wizen

[worm-suggestion]

shh... they're resting

[libutron]

Giant Springtail - Tetrodontophora bielanensis

This velvety blue springtail scientifically named Tetrodontophora bielanensis (Collembola - Onychiuridae) is one of the largest European springtails and the only species of the genus. 

It is characterized by presence of furca (a tail-like appendage shaped like a fork) and well-developed pigmentation, while the other genera of the family are without furca and pigmentation. Like other springtails, this one lives in soil, in decaying material, and on plants.

Distribution of this species is reported from Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Romania, Ukraine, Slovakia, Poland, Czech Republic, Italy, Austria, Germany, Albania and Hungary.

Reference: [1]

Photo credit: ©Karol Beck | Locality: Łężyce, Lower Silesia, Poland (2014) | [Top] - [Bottom]