Springtail (Sminthurus sp.), artwork. This primitive wingless herbivore is approximately 2mm long. It has a hinged appendage on its abdomen called a f

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Springtail (Sminthurus sp.), artwork. This primitive wingless herbivore is approximately 2mm long. It has a hinged appendage on its abdomen called a furcula which enables it to move about a hundred times its body length in one leap. To move, the furcula (far right) is bent forward and held in place. When released, the springing action propells the animal through the air. Springtails belong to the order Collembola, rather than Insecta, having simple eyes and few abdominal segments. This specimen was found on a stinging nettle (Urtica dioica).

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Size: 4958px × 3473px
Photo credit: © DR KEITH WHEELER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: arthropod, artwork, collembola, coloured, diagram, drawing, entomology, false-coloured, furcula, globular, hexapod, illustration, insect, insecta, invertebrate, invertebrates, nature, primitive, single, sminthurus, sp., springtail, zoological, zoology