. Elementary entomology. Entomology. BRISTLETAILS AND SPRINGTAILS 75 the surface of stagnant pools, in manure piles, in the decaying hollows of trees, in gardens, hotbeds, window boxes, and, in general, in moist places where decaying vegetation is found. They are usually microscopic in size, from one tenth to one twentieth of an inch long, but have an exceedingly inter- esting structure. Projecting forward from the underside of the next to the last ab- dominal segment is a long abdominal ap- pendage, or spring, by the extension of which the insect is enabled to shoot for- ward as if shot from
. Elementary entomology. Entomology. BRISTLETAILS AND SPRINGTAILS 75 the surface of stagnant pools, in manure piles, in the decaying hollows of trees, in gardens, hotbeds, window boxes, and, in general, in moist places where decaying vegetation is found. They are usually microscopic in size, from one tenth to one twentieth of an inch long, but have an exceedingly inter- esting structure. Projecting forward from the underside of the next to the last ab- dominal segment is a long abdominal ap- pendage, or spring, by the extension of which the insect is enabled to shoot for- ward as if shot from a catapult, jumping a considerable distance. As the springtails feed only on decaying vegetation, they are never injurious, unless exceptional num- bers render them a nuisance. Occasionally such immense numbers of small spring- tails are found in manure heaps or on the surface of stagnant pools or ponds as to attract attention to them. Many of these little springtails are prettily colored with patterns composed of very minute scales. For this reason they are often used as test objects for microscopes, the quality of the lens being determined by its efficiency in revealing the very fine markings on these tiny Fig. 90. Underside of the American springtail {Lepido- cyrtus atttericaniis) with the spring folded underneath the body. (Much enlarged) (After Howard and Marlatt). Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Sanderson, Dwight, 1878-1944; Jackson, C. F. (Cicero Floyd), b. 1882; Metcalf Collection (North Carolina State University). NCRS. Boston, Ginn
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1, booksubjectentomology, bookyear1912
