Springtail mouth. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the mouth of a springtail insect (Order Collembola). Springtails are primitive, wingl

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Springtail mouth. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the mouth of a springtail insect (Order Collembola). Springtails are primitive, wingless insects, often referred to as 'living fossils' because they have remained relatively unchanged for millions of years. Their mouthparts are kept inside the head except when feeding. Their diet mainly consists of decaying organic matter. The mouth is covered in sensory hairs or bristles (black). Springtails are so called because of their ability to leap great distances by flicking their tails. Magnification: x1590 when printed 10cm wide.

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Size: 4000px × 4000px
Photo credit: © EYE OF SCIENCE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: animal, apterygota, apterygote, biological, biology, bristle, bristles, collembola, coloured, entomological, entomology, false-colour, false-coloured, fauna, fossil, hair, hairs, hairy, insect, invertebrate, invertebrates, living, mouth, mouthparts, nature, primitive, sem, sensory, springtail, wildlife, wingless, zoological, zoology