I never cease to be amazed what I can find in my own little yard. Yesterday I was checking out a tree trunk that was being hit by direct sunlight and this Jumping bristletail was hiding in a crevice near the base. Unfortunately for some reason it died really quickly before I could get any live photos but it also molted and I was treated to a neat Jumping bristletail exuviae! Jumping bristletails are extremely primitive and resemble fossils of the earliest insects from over 400 million years ago. They retain many primitive features including styli on some of the abdominal segments that may represent vestigial appendages. They are also covered with scales and many are quite nicely colored and patterned like this golden iridescent one I found. Simply put, Jumping bristletails are wickedly cool. Here are photos of the bristletail and its exuviae and also a close up through the scope of the styli. Whats in your yard??? Bug Addiction - Confessions of a Bug Addict
Posted on: Fri, 26 Dec 2014 20:23:34 +0000
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