http://www.collembola.org/images/gallery.htm - Last updated on 2024.03.16 by Frans Janssens
Checklist of the Collembola: Image Gallery

Preface

This is a sample collection of the more exclusive images on Collembola. The images are kindly made available by its authors. Note that the copyright of the images remains with the respective authors.

Lithographs

Reproductions of colourfull paintings of Collembola, made by Hollick, A.T. in Lubbock, J. (1873), courtesy of Gordon Ramel, 1995:
Entomobryidae: Entomobrya nivalis, habitus dorsal, after Lubbock, 1873.
Entomobryidae: Willowsia buski, habitus dorsal, after Lubbock, 1873.
More reproductions can be found at Gordon Ramel's Collembola Pictures gallery.

Macrophotographs

Remarkable photographs mostly of live specimens, courtesy of Ab H. Baas, Enrique Baquero, Toby Barton, Noel J. Cornwall, Miroslav Deml, Xavier Domene, Mike Feldman, Krister Hall, Hans Henderickx, Jarmo Holopainen, Steve Hopkin, John Jeffery, Rafael Jordana, Frithjof Kohl, David R. Maddison, Jonathan Schmidt, Mark Stevens, Brian Valentine and Bev Wigney :
Hypogastruridae: Ceratophysella?, swarm, © Feldman, 2006.
Hypogastruridae: Ceratophysella armata, habitus lateral, © Baquero & Jordana, 2002.
Hypogastruridae: Hypogastrura nivicola, aggregation, © Wigney, 2006.
Hypogastruridae: Hypogastrura viatica, habitus lateral, © Hall, 2006.
Neanuridae: Acanthanura sp., habitus lateral, © Henderickx, 2007.

Neanuridae: Anurida granaria, habitus dorsal © Hopkin, 2005.
Neanuridae: Anurida granaria, habitus dorsolateral © Hall, 2006.
Neanuridae: Neanura muscorum, habitus lateral, © Hall, 2005.
Neanuridae: Bilobella aurantiaca, habitus dorsal, © Domene, 2005.
Neanuridae: Holacanthella duospinosa, the giant springtail of 17 mm, habitus dorsal, © Stevens, 2007.
Onychiuridae: Tetrodontophora bielanensis, habitus dorsal, © Hopkin, 2003.
Poduridae: Podura aquatica, habitus dorsal, © Hopkin, 2000.
Isotomidae: Folsomia candida, habitus lateral and dorsal, © Hopkin, 2003.
Isotomidae: Isotoma viridis, habitus dorsal and lateral, © Holopainen, 2001.

Isotomidae: Isotomurus plumosus 2, habitus dorsolateral, © Hopkin, 2000.
Entomobryidae: Entomobrya intermedia, head close-up lateral, © Valentine, 2006.
Entomobryidae: Orchesella cincta, habitus dorsal, © Henderickx, 2004.
Entomobryidae: Orchesella cincta, habitus dorsal, © Hall, 2005.
Entomobryidae: Orchesella flavescens, habitus dorsal, © Hall, 2005.
Entomobryidae: Orchesella flavescens, habitus lateral, close-up head, © Frithjof, 2006.
Entomobryidae: Orchesella villosa, habitus lateral, © Hopkin, 2001.
Entomobryidae: Orchesella villosa, habitus lateral, © Hall, 2005.
Entomobryidae: Orchesella villosa, habitus dorso-lateral, © Baas, 2008.
Entomobryidae: Orchesella villosa, dorsal pigmentation pattern, © Baas, 2008.
Entomobryidae: Orchesella villosa, habitus lateral, © Jeffery, 2009.

Entomobryidae: Orchesella villosa, habitus dorsal, © Twix, 2006.
Entomobryidae: Lepidocyrtus paradoxus, habitus lateral, © Deml, 2008.
Tomoceridae: Tomocerus vulgaris, habitus dorso-lateral, © Baas, 2008.
Tomoceridae: Pogonognathellus longicornis, habitus dorsal, with antennae straight, © Hopkin, 1999.
Tomoceridae: Pogonognathellus longicornis, habitus dorsal, with antennae curled, © Hopkin, 1999.
Neelidae: Megalothorax minimus, the tiny of 0.25 mm, in front of Pogonognathellus longicornis, the giant of 6 mm, © Hopkin, 2005.
Arrhopalitidae: Arrhopalites hirtus, habitus dorsolaterofrontal, © Cheung & Schmidt, 2005.
Sminthuridae: Allacma fusca, habitus lateral, © Hall, 2006.
Sminthuridae: Vesicephalus europaeus, habitus dorsal, © Baquero & Jordana, 2002.
Sminthurididae: Sphaeridia serrata, habitus laterodorsal, male clasped to female, © Maddison, 2006.

Sminthurididae: Sminthurides aquaticus, habitus dorsal, female, © Hopkin, 2000.
Dicyrtomidae: Dicyrtoma fusca, habitus lateral, © Hall, 2005.
Dicyrtomidae: Dicyrtoma fusca, habitus frontal, very dramatic, © Hall, 2005.
Dicyrtomidae: Dicyrtomina saundersi, habitus caudolateral, © Barton, 2006.
Dicyrtomidae: Dicyrtomina saundersi, habitus frontolateral, © Cornwall, 2007.

More fascinating photographs of live Collembola can be found at
27b-6's photo gallery Springtails from the USA, Washington State,
Arthur Anker's photo gallery Springtails and Bristletails,
Tristan Bantock's photo gallery Collembola from the UK, England, North of London,
Toby Barton's photo gallery Springtails from the UK, England, Richmond Surrey,
Nicky Bay's photo gallery Collembola-Springtails from Singapore,
Ronald Beer's photo gallery Collembola from Spain, Ibiza,
Lynn Bergen's photo gallery Springtails from the USA, New York,
Ole Bildstrup's photo gallery Collembola from Denmark,
Peter Birch's photo gallery Collembola-Springtails from the UK, England, Knutsford,
Joe Botting's photo gallery Collembola from the UK, England, South of London,
Alf Branch's photo gallery Collembola from the UK, England, West Cumbria,
Peter Bryant's photo gallery Poduromorpha from the USA, California,

Alistair Campbell's photo gallery Springtails from the UK, England, South of Birmingham,
Arthur Chapman's photo gallery Springtails from Australia, Melbourne,
Hao-Chiang Chien's photo gallery Springtails from Taiwan,
Coder's photo gallery Springtails from the USA, Michigan,
Noel Cornwall's photo gallery Springtails from the UK, England, Sussex,
Rick Cowen's photo gallery Springtails from the USA,
Rick Cowen's photo gallery Collembola from the USA, South Dakota,
Tony Daley's photo gallery Collembola from Tasmania,
E.D.E.N.'s photo gallery Collembola from Portugal, the Azores,
E.D.E.N.'s photo gallery 2 Collembola from Portugal, the Azores,
Alison Edwards's photo gallery Springtails from the UK, Wales, Port Talbot,
Tony Enticknap's photo gallery Springtails from the UK, England, Dorset,
Shane Farrell's photo gallery Springtails from the UK, England, Cheshire,
Mike Feldman's photos and videoclips Springtails from the USA, Illinois, Champaign,
Philippe Garcelon's photo gallery Collembola from France, Toulouse,
Philippe Garcelon's website on Collembola from France, Toulouse,
Philippe Garcelon's exposition on Collembola from France, Toulouse,
Phil 'Goldenorfe's photo gallery Springtails from the UK, England, Thurstaston,
Raphaël Haentjens' photos on Collembola from Belgium, Wallonie,
Krister Hall's photo gallery Collembola from Sweden,
Håkon Haraldseide's photo gallery Collembola from Western Norway,
Liz Henwood's photo gallery Springtails from the UK, England, East Sussex,
Ronny Hermans's photo gallery Springtails from Belgium, Antwerp,
Kathie Hodge's photo gallery Collembola from the USA, New York,
Dav Holla's photo gallery Collembola from the UK, England, Bromley,
Steve Hopkin's photo gallery Collembola from the UK, England, Reading,
Marie Louise Huskens's photo gallery Collembola from Belgium, Limburg, Opitter,
Marie Louise Huskens's photo gallery Collembola from Belgium, Limburg, Opitter and surroundings,
Adrian Jones' photo gallery Collembola from the UK, England, Shrewsbury,
Adrian Jones' photo gallery Collembola from the UK, England, Shrewsbury,
Scott Justis' photo gallery Collembola from the USA, Virginia,
Gabor Keresztes's photo gallery Collembola from Central Europe: Hungary and Croatia,
Brian Kilford's photo gallery Springtails from the UK, England, Wombourne,
Michael Kilner's photo gallery Collembola from the UK, England, Bolton,
James Koh's photo gallery Collembola from Singapore,
Frithjof Kohl's photo collection Springtails from Germany,
Pavel Krásenský's photo gallery Collembola from Czechia,
Philippe Lebeaux's photo gallery Collemboles from France,
J. LeMons' photo gallery Springtails from the USA,

Stéphane Losacco's photo gallery Collemboles from France,
Gary McDonald's photo gallery Collembola from the USA, California,
Jonathan Michaelson's photo gallery Collembola from the UK, England, Berkshire,
Maria Minor & Alastair Robertson's photo gallery Collembola from New Zealand,
Cheryl Moorehead's photo gallery Springtails from the USA, Washington, Seattle,
Andy Murray's photo gallery Collembola from the UK, England,
Andy Murray's photo gallery Collembola from the World,
Tom Murray's photo gallery Springtails from the USA, Massachusetts,
Eddie Nurcombe's photo gallery Collembola from the UK, England,
Alby Oakshott's photo gallery Springtails from the UK, England, Portsmouth,
Jérôme Picard's website on Collembola from France,
Ariel Qassis's photo gallery Collembola from Israel,
Christophe Quintin's photo gallery Collembola from France,
Tim Ranson's photo gallery Springtails from the UK, Channel Islands,
Andrew Robertson's photo gallery Springtails from the UK, Scotland, Penicuik,
Shadowshador's photo gallery Collembola from the UK, Wales, Park Hall,
Thomas Shahan's photo gallery Collembola from the USA, Oklahoma,
Gordon Spears' photographic forum on Collembla from the UK, England, Lancashire, Chorley,
Gordon Spears' photo gallery on Collembla from the UK, England, Lancashire, Chorley,
Mick Talbot's photo gallery Dicyrtomidae from the UK, England, Lincolnshire,
Mick Talbot's photo gallery Entomobryinae from the UK, England, Lincolnshire,
Mick Talbot's photo gallery Hypogastruridae from the UK, England, Lincolnshire,
Mick Talbot's photo gallery Orchesellinae from the UK, England, Lincolnshire,
Mick Talbot's photo gallery Tomoceridae from the UK, England, Lincolnshire,
Scott Thompson's photo gallery Springtails from the UK, England, Somerset,
Sun Tiky's photo gallery Collembola from France,
Jesus Tizon's photo gallery Collembola from Spain, Hembra,
Maarten Tonsbeek's photo gallery Springtails from the UK, England, Canterbury,
Brian Valentine's photo gallery Springtails from the UK, England, South Coast, Worthing,

José Ramón Pato Vicente's photo gallery Collembola from Spain,
Lance van de Vyver's photo gallery Collembola from New Zealand, Levin,
Jan van Duinen's website Collembola from Holland, Drenthe,
Jan van Duinen's photo gallery Collembola from Holland, Drenthe,
Michel Vuijlsteke's photo gallery Collembola from Belgium, Ghent,
Timothy Ward's photo gallery Springtails from the UK, England, Birmingham,
Henk Wallays's photo gallery Collembola from Belgium, Hansbeke,
Wanderin'Weeta's photo gallery Collembola from Canada, British Columbia,
Phil Warner's photo gallery Collembola from the UK, England, St Albans, and
Bev Wigney's photo gallery Springtails from Canada, Ontario.
Furthermore:
Bugguide's photo gallery Collembola from the USA and Canada,
BioLib's photo gallery Collembola from Czechia,
Monde des Insectes' photo gallery Collembola from France,
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park photo gallery Collembola,
Flickr's photo gallery Springtail,
Flickr's photo gallery Springtails,
Flickr's photo gallery Collembola,
Flickr's photo gallery Springstaart,
and finally but not least
Rick Cowen's photographers showcase on Collembola/Springtails from the world.

Photomicrographs

Fascinating phasecontrast photomicrographs of morphological characteristics of Collembola, courtesy of Keith Brocklehurst:
Isotomidae: Tetracanthella brachyura, anal spines dorsal, © Brocklehurst, 1999.
Entomobryidae: Orchesella villosa, head lateral, © Brocklehurst, 2005.
Tomoceridae: Tomocerus minor, mucro lateral, © Brocklehurst, 1998.
Tomoceridae: Tomocerus minor, footcomplex lateral, © Brocklehurst, 1998.
Sminthurididae: Sminthurides malmgreni, habitus lateral, © Brocklehurst, 1999.
More high quality photomicrographs of morphological features of the Collembola can be found at the Springtail of the Month pages of the PMS Springtail Study Group.

Interesting dark field photomicrographs of morphological characteristics of Onychiuridae, courtesy of Terry Lynch:
Onychiuridae: Onychiurus sp., anal spines dorsal, © Lynch, 2001.
Onychiuridae: Onychiurus sp., cuticular aspect dorsal, © Lynch, 2001.
Visit Bioluminescent springtails light up Christchurch, New Zealand by Terry Lynch (2001-) for more detailed photomicrographs of morphological features of the Onychiuridae and other Collembola.

High quality preparation microscope photomicrographs of the habitus of Collembola, courtesy of Arne Fjellberg:
Sminthurididae: Sminthurides aquaticus, habitus lateral, with males clasped to preadult females, © Fjellberg, 2006.
Dicyrtominae: Dicyrtoma fusca, habitus lateral and dorsal, © Fjellberg, 2006.

Scanning Electron Micrographs

A gold sputtered specimen of Orchesella cincta, mounted on SEM stage by Hans Henderickx, photographed by Stephane Vandermeeren and digitally postprocessed by Wilfried Hooftman:
Entomobryidae: Orchesella cincta, habitus lateral, © Vandermeeren, S., 2005.

Morphological features of Isotomurus, courtesy of T.M. Driscoll:
Isotomidae: Isotomurus, crenulate dens with mucro, lateral, © Driscoll, 1998.
Isotomidae: Isotomurus, tenaculum, ventral, © Driscoll, 1998.

Stunning SEM's of family representatives, courtesy of David Walter and Raphael Jordana:
Entomobryidae: Heteromurus, habitus lateral, © Jordana, 2004.
Isotomidae: Folsomides, habitus lateral, © Walter, 1999.
Neelidae: Megalothorax, habitus lateral, © Walter, 1999.
Bourletiellidae, habitus lateral, © Walter, 1999.

Amazing close-ups of the epicuticular ultrastructure, courtesy of Stéphan Borensztajn, Helen Ghiradella and Neil Plant:
Collembola, basic hexagonal epicuticular pattern, © Borensztajn, 2001.
Collembola, basal setal ring of microtubercles; tetragonal epicuticular pattern, © Borensztajn, 2001.
Collembola, basal setal ring of partly fused microtubercles, © Borensztajn, 2001.
Collembola, basal setal ring of fused microtubercles, © Borensztajn, 2001.
Tomoceridae: Tomocerus, basic hexagonal epicuticular pattern, © Ghiradella, 2000.
Tomoceridae: Tomocerus flavescens?, eye patch with ocellar epicuticular ultrastructure, © Plant, 2001.

Characteristic features of Actaletidae, Coenaletidae, and Sminthuridae, courtesy of José Palacios-Vargas, and Douglas Zeppelini:
Actaletidae: Spinactaletes sp., habitus, lateral aspect, © Palacios, J.G. 2006.
Actaletidae: Spinactaletes sp., femur and tibiotarsus with spur, © Palacios, J.G. 2006.
Actaletidae: Spinactaletes sp., tibiotarsal spur, © Palacios, J.G. 2006.
Coenaletidae: Coenaletes caribaeus, male antennal clasping organ, © Palacios, J.G. 2006.
Coenaletidae: Coenaletes caribaeus, large spine on third abdominal segment, © Palacios, J.G. 2006.
Sminthurididae: Sminthurides, head with 8 + 8 ocelli, dorsal, © Palacios-Vargas, 2000.
Sminthurididae: Sminthurides, male antennal clasping organ, © Palacios-Vargas, 2000.
Sminthurididae: Sminthurides, mucro with inner, outer and ventral lamellae, © Palacios-Vargas, 2000.
Sminthuridae, collophore with eversed vesicles, ventral, © Zeppelini, 2005.
Sminthuridae, collophore with eversed vesicles, lateral, © Zeppelini, 2005.

A new species of Seira, with unique raptorial prolimb modifications, courtesy of Douglas Zeppelini:
Entomobryidae: Seira, raptorial modifications, © Zeppelini, D. 2004.

Three Dimensional Images

2D anaglyphs:
The images are in fact 2D anaglyphs that produce a 3D image when observed using red-blue glasses. To see the 3D effects, you need 3D glasses1 with blue left eye and red right eye glass.

A dramatic face á face stereoscopic scanning electron micrograph, courtesy of David Burder:
Entomobryidae: Orchesella, habitus frontal, © Burder, D. 1991.

Cross-eye stereograms:
To see the 3D effect, you do not need any special gimmick. Look at the image in cross-eye fashion. This will produce a third 3D image inbetween the two 2D images. This technique requires some practice...
Tip for beginners: focus on the tip of a pencil held in front of you at a few cm from your nose while looking to the screen from a distance of about 30 to 50 cm. You will notice that a third image is gradually built in the background while you move the pencil forward or backward. Keep your focus at the pencil tip while watching in the background. Move the pencil untill you notice that the third image in the background is complete. Be patient, do not try to focus at the image in the background. Once the image is formed, it will suddenly 'pop out of the screen'. You will be surprised. You can then remove the pencil. The 3D image will then be 'locked' in your brain and you can relax backwards and observe all the details in true depth. You do not have to stare at the image, you can blink your eyes. You can move your eyes to catch all details. You can move your head backwards and frontwards, horizontally and vertically. But if you tilt your head to left or right, you will loose the image...
Explore and enjoy!

Some fascinating stereoscopic macrophotographs, courtesy of Brian Valentine and Mike Feldman:
Hypogastruridae: Ceratophysella sp., aggregation, © Feldman, 2006.
Entomobryidae: Entomobrya intermedia, habitus lateral, © Valentine, 2006.
Entomobryidae: Entomobrya intermedia, habitus lateral, © Valentine, 2006.
Entomobryidae: Entomobrya intermedia, habitus lateral, with dew drops, © Valentine, 2006.
Entomobryidae: Entomobrya intermedia, habitus lateral, © Valentine, 2007.10.23.
Dicyrtomidae: Dicyrtomina ornata, habitus lateral, © Valentine, 2006.
Dicyrtomidae: Dicyrtomina ornata, habitus dorsal, 3 instar stadia, © Valentine, 2006.
Dicyrtomidae: Dicyrtomina ornata, habitus frontodorsal, © Valentine, 2006.
Dicyrtomidae: Dicyrtomina ornata, habitus lateral, © Valentine, 2006.
Dicyrtomidae: Dicyrtomina ornata, habitus caudolateral, focus at head, © Valentine, 2006.
Dicyrtomidae: Dicyrtomina ornata, habitus frontolateral, © Valentine, 2006.
Dicyrtomidae: Dicyrtomina ornata, habitus laterodorsal, © Valentine, 2014.12.03.
Dicyrtomidae: Dicyrtomina saundersi, habitus lateral, © Valentine, 2006.
Dicyrtomidae: Dicyrtomina saundersi, habitus lateral, with dew drops, © Valentine, 2006.
Dicyrtomidae: Dicyrtomina saundersi, habitus laterodorsal, © Valentine, 2006.
More fascinating cross-eye stereograms can be found at
Brian Valentine's Springtails Photo Gallery from the UK, and
Mike Feldman's photos and videoclips Springtails from the USA.

Progressive and regressive morph between Neanura and Dicyrtoma
2006 © Hall, K. & Janssens, F.
The Amazing Disappearing Springtail (Isotominae)
2015 © Garlick, T.

Video clips

Interesting video clips, courtesy of Shi Aoxiang, Alan Hadley, Gesine Hellberg-Rode, Jarmo Holopainen, Marek Wojciech Kozlowski, José Palacios-Vargas, Jérôme Picard and Jonathan Schmidt:
Neanuridae: Americanura mexicana & Sphaeridia sp., foraging behaviour, clip of 1m10s, © Palacios-Vargas, 2005.
Neanuridae: Neanura muscorum, crawling, ©, Hellberg-Rode, 2006.
Onychiuridae: Protaphorura armata, crawling, ©, Hadley, 2006.
Isotomidae: Isotoma viridis?, nervously jumping, clip of 0m06s, © Holopainen, 2001.
Neelidae: Megalothorax? sp., foraging behaviour, clip of 4s, © Schmidt, 2005. It is quite intriguing, because the "stop and head nod" behaviour is also quite common in this species and may be a method of scanning for olfactory cues.
Arrhopalitidae: Arrhopalites hirtus, food defensing behaviour, clip of 9s, © Schmidt, 2005.
Bourletiellitidae: Deuterosminthurus bicinctus, mating behaviour, clip of 2m50s, © Kozlowski & Aoxiang, 2005.
Sminthurididae: Sminthurides sp., mating behaviour, clip of 1m35s, © Palacios-Vargas, 2005.
Sminthurididae: Sminthurides sp., mating behaviour, clip of 1m24s, © Palacios-Vargas, 2005.

You also might want to visit
- Dr Jarmo Holopainen's collection of video clips of pest and beneficial insects;
- the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology to enjoy their amazing set of Soil Animal Video clips;
- the collection of video clips of Jérôme Picard on Collembola from France.

Film

The first film ever on Collembola: Planète Collemboles, la vie secrète des sols by Philippe Lebeaux © 2015.

Collembola Art

You thought Collembola were not inspiring for artists, didn't you?
Sminthuridae: Sminthurus, habitus lateral, © Kluge, 2000.
You might want to visit the unique Collembola Art gallery of artist Goetz Kluge.

Endnotes

1 How to obtain some 3D red-blue anaglyph glasses?
Free sample 3D glasses can be ordered from companies such as
- Deep Vision 3D
- 3D Glasses Direct

2 Tentative identification by Arne Fjellberg.