Gallery: Snow Fleas
01Bugs on ice
Springtails on Ice: it's not a strange Ice Capades show, it's just life in the undergrowth. Springtails are technically not insects, although they are close relatives. Many of them are full of antifreeze and active in winter--this one is scampering about on ice crystals. Female *Dicyrtomina saundersi*. [Image © Edward Nurcombe](http://www.flickr.com/photos/odonataman/8230837938/)
02collembola eyes
Collembola are not insects for several reasons, one of which is the lack of compound eyes. In this photo, you can see that the "eye" is actually several light-sensing ocelli (single lens eyes) grouped together. Also, this springtail is a lovely pinkish purple color. [Image © Edward Nurcombe](http://www.flickr.com/photos/odonataman/8686196645/).
03Some have spots
Some springtails have interesting spotted patterns; this *Katianna* species has lovely tortoiseshell spots. Some springtails look like they are wearing plaid -- one species was [named for Lamar Alexander's trademark shirts](http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/potw/cosberella-lamaralexanderi-great-smoky-mountains-national-park) (*Cosberella lamaralexanderi*). [Image © Edward Nurcombe](http://www.flickr.com/photos/odonataman/11313029424/)
04wee baby collembola
All babies are cute. Especially when they are fuzzy baby collembolans about 0.5mm long. [Image © Edward Nurcombe](http://http://www.flickr.com/photos/odonataman/8393132262/).
05tiny forest
This little springtail (*Bourletiella hortensis*) is traversing a forest of moss. A forest that is only 10mm tall. Moss doesn't have true "leaves"; these tiny plants are usually only 1 cell layer thick. Like mosses, springtails need a damp environment to survive. [Image © Edward Nurcombe](http://www.flickr.com/photos/odonataman/8773219460/)
06The clean and jerk
Snow flea courtship involves a lot of head banging. Females are usually larger than males, and it's thought that she assesses a male's suitability by making him push her around. Literally. Male *Sminthurides aquaticus* have specially adapted antennae that interlock with the females antennae. Females lift the male in the air, which may help her assess his weight. The ultimate clean and jerk? [Image © Edward Neurcombe.](http://www.flickr.com/photos/odonataman/7938852870/)
07Sex, Collembola Style
In *Stenacidia violacea*, males also have specially modified antennae that allow them to clasp onto a female's antennae. She then caries the male around for a while while she makes up her mind about him. If he proves satisfactory, she puts him down so he can deposit a spermatophore (basically a package of sperm), which she sits on. [Image © Edward Nurcombe.](http://www.flickr.com/photos/odonataman/10473251533/)
08dehydrated springtail
Some springtails solve the problem of below freezing temperatures by dehydrating (cryoprotective dehydration). With little water in their body, ice doesn't form and disrupt tissues. This photo shows (a) scanning electron microscopy of *M. arctica* in "normal" fully hydrated state, and (b) an SEM of *M. arctica* in dehydrated state. Photo courtesy of [K. Robinson and M. R. Worland](http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2164/10/328).
