Couple of globulars

[LordV]

Couple of shots of globular springtails. The first, Sminthurinus niger is a new one for me I think and the second my first of the season of Dicyrtomina ornata - a much more common one.
Thanks to Frans for the ID as usual.

Brian V.

Sminthurinus niger about 0.9mm body length

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2270/1561676757_9b52f0066f.jpg (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2270/1561676757_5a0fecdfac_o.jpg)

Dicyrtomina ornata

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2042/1585751678_c159487fd8.jpg (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2042/1585751678_14847c6559_o.jpg)

[alliec]

Great Brian. Love the second one.

[lance v]

Very cool. aparently NZ has some cool ones like these but ive never had the time to go looking for them:P

[macro junkie]

never seen these before..where do i find them brian?

[LordV]

Thanks for the comments :)
MJ - you find them in slightly damp places that get some light - one of those things most people have trouble finding (they are very small - max size about 2mm) but once you've found one you tend to then find them all over the place. Proper season for #2 is only just starting but when it's in full swing you get little herds of them all in one place. I get them on my water barrel lids.

Brian V.

[Peepaw]

Nice shots Brian. I'm going to have to dig a little deeper this weekend. Running out of bigger subjects quickly around here.

[lcpete]

really nice shots Brian I think the lighting in the second is perfect
We've a water butt I will have a look but think I may struggle with beasties that small
Pete

[Jay Lowery]

nice shots brian. i like the first one he looks ready for anything. ive never seen any of these springtails but i see loads of other species in areas high of organic matter that really moist. sometimes theres thousands of them!

[LordV]

Thanks for the comments :)
Should be getting more common now in the Northern hemisphere - they tend to prefer cooler moist habitats - there's even one springtail that lives on snow (well it grazes on the algae on snow).

Brian V.