Springtail - Collembola - Orchesella villosa?

JRsbugs · #1 (**permalink**) 20-02-2009, 04:32 PM

HI folks!

This was about 5mm long, taken on 19th February 2009. It was crawling through a loop pile carpet near my back door, heading underneath a low coffee table (plant stand!) for cover. When I tried to put it on the tiled floor to get better pics it sprung about 3 inches to get back to cover!

I found a few pics which suggest this is, or for now called, Orchesella villosa.

Janet

Jason Green · #2 (**permalink**) 20-02-2009, 05:39 PM

Hi Janet,

Not seen you round for a couple of weeks.

Yep, agreed - O. villosa.

What camera gear did you use?

JRsbugs · #3 (**permalink**) 20-02-2009, 06:13 PM

Hi Jason,

I haven't been around because I've been very, very busy selling stuff on ebay to pay for my new Nikon micro 105mm VR lens, and the 2x teleconverter!

I will have made it when my last auctions end!!!!!!

I saw the prices rising, got in for the 105mm in the nick of time, lol, ordered one night and found the prices had risen the next but they honoured it (after the first lot didn't tell me of their £100 price rise!), paid a bit more at £499 but cheaper than any others. Same thing happened with the teleconverter, so I sent an email telling them if it wasn't the same price let me know so I could look around, that was £249.99 and can still be got at Robert Whites I found so if you're in the market get in quick! Still using the Nikon D40X, might upgrade in the future if prices come down again but I've had enough of selling for now!

Jason Green · #4 (**permalink**) 20-02-2009, 06:21 PM

Wow, sounds like the lens is good.

Glad to see you back

JRsbugs · #5 (**permalink**) 20-02-2009, 06:31 PM

Thanks Jason, now I can concentrate on having fun!

It is a very good combination! It wasn't easy to take those as the thing kept moving, as they do, lol, and I used the flash. I can't wait to try it outside in good light.

Jason Green · #6 (**permalink**) 20-02-2009, 06:37 PM

Well, the springers have kept me amused through the winter! They were still active on fences, albeit dramatically fewer around, when we had snow down. I have logged about... six species now, I think. My favourite is E. albocincta, quite pretty.

You?

JRsbugs · #7 (**permalink**) 20-02-2009, 06:43 PM

This is the first I have seen to note, I couldn't say if I have had any others in the past as I may not have taken as much notice without a good camera to take pics.

I googled this species and found a site which has a map, they are recorded as being further west but not actually specimens found, specimens on the map were further south and very few.

The map was on a site called stevehopkin.co.uk