Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: AllenG on 16/11/2008 03:18:03

Title: What are these tiny bugs in my puddles?
Post by: AllenG on 16/11/2008 03:18:03

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fawcg.com%2FAllen%2FImages%2FDrivewayBugs%2FDWB1.jpg&hash=fc1b3f6caa533797f4c90c7aa5abd33f)
Along the driveway, in the mud puddles, there is what looks like an oil slick.

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fawcg.com%2FAllen%2FImages%2FDrivewayBugs%2FDWB2.jpg&hash=92d98385eb23ecd839f8d5fdf509646e)
But when you get closer you can see they are bugs, in the thousands, only a half or a quarter of a millimeter long.  I have no idea what they are, but they are in every puddle for a half a mile down the road.  And when the ground is dry they gather in the same herds in the puddle basins.

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fawcg.com%2FAllen%2FImages%2FDrivewayBugs%2FDWB3.jpg&hash=cb26b13ea3cc353b0db24ffb176b490e)
They bunch up on the surface of the water and squirm around, sometimes hopping.

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fawcg.com%2FAllen%2FImages%2FDrivewayBugs%2FDWB4.jpg&hash=d3d88524db38fb5916abb2b6d14b5c9e)
You can see how small they are by the the size of the veins in the oak leaf.

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fawcg.com%2FAllen%2FImages%2FDrivewayBugs%2FDWB5.jpg&hash=2d3decda9535efca1894d74f9a15a10c)
Floating on the water's surface.

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fawcg.com%2FAllen%2FImages%2FDrivewayBugs%2FDWB6.jpg&hash=bc1d73f366b536cd1dc6352d5f0d77ec)
Dorsal side

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fawcg.com%2FAllen%2FImages%2FDrivewayBugs%2FDWB7.jpg&hash=2a0d87ccfeee77c5189587bc5d438e2a)
Ventral side, and about as far as I can push my optics.

Who knows what these critters are?

{edit}
Forgot to add: These were taken in north Georgia, USA.

Title: What are these tiny bugs in my puddles?
Post by: dentstudent on 17/11/2008 08:29:32

I think that they are Hypogastrura purpurescens, a kind of Springtail.

Have a look at this site - I think that they look close to this.

http://bugguide.net/node/view/174468

and also here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shane58/2457716820/

Title: What are these tiny bugs in my puddles?
Post by: AllenG on 17/11/2008 20:51:52

I believe you are absolutely correct.
Thank you very much,

--A