#ptenothrix

[collemblogging]

classics of ball-type animal

Ptenothrix marmorata; note the small dewdrops visible on the wax tubules in the last photo. Thin, hair-like wax extrusions from the abdomen are a characteristic feature of the Dicyrtomidae family.

[onenicebugperday]

A supposedly super-rare green Ptenothrix I found randomly on a beach log? West Coast Van Isle is kind of a hotspot for weird bugs.

My springtail buddies got super excited about it, there's a chance that it might just be a weird P. beta, though.

Thought I'd share some globby love :]

I was just talking about my love for globular springtails yesterday! Such nice looking little dudes with great vibes. Whether this is a fancy fella or just weird P. beta, they are excellent either way :)

[northerlyy]

Globular Springtails (Order Symphypleona), taken March 20, 2025, in Georgia, US

In order of appearance: Ptenothrix curvilineata (1), undescribed Dicyrtoma sp. (2), Ptenothrix marmorata (3), undescribed/unknown Ptenothrix sp. (4)

I've been in a globular springtail phase for a couple months now, and the past few days I've been doubling down in my efforts to find as many as possible. I spent a couple hours yesterday digging through dead wood and found and photographed 40 individuals! I love the diversity of patterning in this group—they're absolutely tiny, but so so gorgeous.

P. marmorata is definitely the most common customer in my part of the woods, but I found lots of the 4th individual as well. That guy is a bit of a strange situation, since it might actually be a regional color morph variant of P. marmorata! It doesn't look much like it, but animals are weird and this stuff happens sometimes. Hopefully we find out what it is soon!

[lookacoolbug]

Springtail feet. Send post