What is this?

[Dave The Nefarious]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collembola ...

Springtails (Order Collembola) form the largest of the three orders of modern hexapods that are no longer considered to be insects (along with the Protura and Diplura). The three orders are sometimes grouped together in a class called Entognatha because they have internal mouthparts, but they do not appear to be more closely related to one another than they are to the insects, which have external mouthparts. Recent genetic studies suggest that the Collembola are a separate evolutionary line from the other Hexapoda [2][3][4].

 

Members of Collembola are normally less than 6 mm in length, have six or fewer abdominal segments and possess a tubular appendage (the collophore) in the first abdominal segment. An abdominal, tail-like appendage, called the furcula, is present in most species and is folded beneath the body, to be used for jumping when the animal is threatened.

 

Springtails are frequently found in leaf litter and other decaying material [5]. The suborder Arthropleona has an elongated body in contrast to the globular body of the Symphypleona.

 

heh, and Frazzle thought I had an insect problem *shakes head*

[two2time]

Luke hmmmmmmm, i just searched google images for it and I would've said "probably not", but then on the 3rd page i saw this thing:

http://ccvipmp.ucdavis.edu/insects/rootpests/Collembola2.jpg

Thats basically what it looks like under the microscope, about 0.5mm-1mm long (notice how accurate my Photoshop one was?)

I grow in hydroton clay pabbles and i havent looked at those themselves yet, just the leaves but ill check the pebbles tonight also when the lights come on at 9pm AEST

 

This larvae looks different though - much longer, much more segmented, and has a black head:

http://www.units.muohio.edu/cryolab/education/images/LopezMartinez%20Journal%20Images/CollembolaBelgica_WEB.jpg

 

 

i know a few women that had something like this in their undies....

 

and they were not bad as well......

 

 

tt

[Dave The Nefarious]

and they were not bad as well......

I'd have to disagree

[Luke Skywalker]

If it is springtails, (and there are more species than you can poke a stick at) then unless they're causing noticeable and significant damage I wouldn't worry too much. It could be larvae of any number of creatures though....

 

Do the specks jump and flick away from you when you disturb them on the leaf? If they do it's a fair indication of springtails. If not then it's likely something else.

 

There are all kinds of things out there which can attack though... Do you perhaps have access to a cheap microscope like a kiddies toy one? Or even a good magnifying glass? This might help in taking pics and getting identification.

[Frazz]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collembola ...

 

 

heh, and Frazzle thought I had an insect problem *shakes head*

 

 

LMFAO .... wrong again sigh.... well my brain has been collecting information for a long time more than Wikipedia has, so i tend to refer to the brain more often than not

 

[LOGGER_KING]

I think 2time is right,,,,,There CRABS

[LOGGER_KING]

I think 2time is right,,,,,There CRABS

[Dave The Nefarious]

I DO NOT HAVE CRABS!!$%#!!!!

[mull]

Hey Dave's got crabs Not!

 

Reckon you mite have thrip larvae mate? Any adults flying round?

As they multiply bigtime in spring.. with all the other bugs, careful not to take any in on clothes etc.

Thrips rasp and suck the leaves, leaving little yellow spots.

 

Whatever they are, get em

[LOGGER_KING]

......