springtails

Hypogastrura is a genus of springtails. They are sometimes called snow fleas, but this common name is properly applied to just one species, Hypogastrura nivicola. There are at least 159 Hypogastrura species worldwide, at least 89 species in North America including Greenland and northern Mexico, and at least 1 species in Minnesota. They occur in North America, Central America, New Zealand, and Western Australia. They are found in moist areas rich in organic matter. They often appear in in very large numbers.

Hypogastrura have no breathing organs but breathe through pores on the surface of their body. This makes them highly sensitive to desiccation and to environmental pollution.

Hypogastrura springtail has a plump, elongated oval body with three visible thoracic segments and six visible abdominal segments. It is bluish-black but appears black when viewed against a light background. There are just a few stiff, hair-like processes (setae) on each segment. The anal spines are small. There are two eye patches, each with eight simple eyes (ocelli). The jumping appendage (furca) is short. The legs and antennae are short.

Identifying a springtail to the genus Hypogastrura is relatively simple, but identifying one to the species is extremely difficult. It requires microscopic examination of the hairs on the last leg segment.

Sources

24, 29, 30, 82.

Common

These … were attracted/feeding on a tree fungus or mushroom. Although there were 3 large of the same mushroom, they only covered the one.

Location: Fairview Twp, Cass County

These … were attracted/feeding on a tree fungus or mushroom. Although there were 3 large of the same mushroom, they only covered the one.