Collembola, Three pictures

[JimDoe]

Found these on the net a year or so ago, thought it was very interesting and great quality photos. If they are in the right order they will be Collembola on a leaf then Collembola a few minutes later being wraped and devoured by fungus for its nitrogen and lastly Collembola attached to fluorescent colored fiber threads.

[cynical]

Did they mention the type of the fungus in the article out of curiosity?

[JimDoe]

Originally Posted by cynical

Did they mention the type of the fungus in the article out of curiosity?

No, sorry to say that the first two pics were copied off of google images and there was not much text. Was a researches web posting and all the person mentioned was fungus does this for nitrogen absorption much like a venus fly trap does when it captures prey. The third photo was also from a researches web page who is from south america and claims the springtail actually produce these fibers themselves. Wish I knew more to relay here on this. Sorry, Jim

[sammy]

I have gotten springtails w fibers attached. sorry cant send there pics. but its like the fiber comes out after catching them

[JimDoe]

Originally Posted by hadrian89@aol.com

I have gotten springtails w fibers attached. sorry cant send there pics. but its like the fiber comes out after catching them

Hello hadrian89

I,ve seen many fiber bundles that appeared to have something wrapped into it. I,ve even been on a few sites that M, infected people claim to have seen the fibers move (worm like). So I began then looking for movement of my fibers. Other than my breath never saw movement. Then one day Low and Behold a blue fiber gold tipped is really moving it was moving only at the tip end. Lots of folks said they never see movement but one diehard posted that if you look long enough you will eventually see it. So I kept looking. I,ve only seen it one time and it was to jumpy to be air currents. Very distinct movement. I do not think it was a worm. Instead I think it was a chemical reaction of the fiber to attract prey. I,m sticking my neck out here on the credibility of my posts but have read on one Collembola research page that Fungus do this movement to attract prey much like a shinny lure attracts fish. Jim

[Doc Holliday]

Originally Posted by JimDoe

Found these on the net a year or so ago, thought it was very interesting and great quality photos. If they are in the right order they will be Collembola on a leaf then Collembola a few minutes later being wraped and devoured by fungus for its nitrogen and lastly Collembola attached to fluorescent colored fiber threads.

>>>>well now.......Jim!,....one of thos critter's look familar,....their is one that looks like the small ----huh!....dandruff!.. that I had in 04 but white,...interesting had loads of them,...about 1/8 inc long shrimp like,...with small hair like legs total leg count maybe 6 to 8 can't rember,..and they were so small. Thanks Jim! ....Doc P.S. don't think mine had antenna .......familar & weird .....had a head full

[JimDoe]

Yeah Doc, mine looked like dandruff to without magnification, but under a 10x Mag glass I could make out some of its body structure. Back when I did bleach bathes and one night I took a high octane 40 minute soak I wrapped in the covers and slept like a baby. The next morning I looked into the mirror and saw attached to the fine hairs on my temple what looked like lint. Tried to lightly brush it off with my fingers but did not budge. Then forcefuly brushed at it. Still attached. Took a closer look and saw it all to be indivually hooked shaped. There were at least 150 maybe double that. They sickly left my scalp because of the bleach bath then latched on and died like in a herd at that one spot. Crazy Man! Jim

[cynical]

Thanks Jim,

Doc interesting description about the hook shape. Where they fine clear fibers with hook shape at one end? Almost like a cane would be shaped?

What is a high octane bath?

[JimDoe]

Originally Posted by cynical

Thanks Jim,

Doc interesting description about the hook shape. Where they fine clear fibers with hook shape at one end? Almost like a cane would be shaped?

What is a high octane bath?

Sorry Cynical,

High Octane was a pun used to express the amount of bleach I put into my bath. Three cups instead of one. Octane is normally used to increase the burn temp. in gasoline.It puts more Umph! in your engine and I was putting more Umph! in my bath. LOL UBcool Jim.

[fracty]

Jim,

That;s interesting. I think the same thing you do about the fungus going after teh worms. It can create a chemical reaction that can create fibers. One thing I suspect is carbon disulfide. When fungus go after nematodes taht is one fo the chemicals that can be released. Carbon disulfide creates a cellulose type of fiber. And the chemical has a sickeningly sweet smell or can be somewhat like a sulfur smell depending on the variety.

I was going to post about it in the "Smell of M" thread but never got around to it.

Sammy,

That is very interesting that you can see the fibers forming.

I have seen things move, but very few and far between. I used to try to stress tehm under the microscope to see how they would react to various stimuli. But some things I saw w bare eyes too.