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acrylic prints springtail acrylic prints collembola acrylic prints hexapod acrylic prints simple eye acrylic prints ocelli acrylic prints antennae acrylic prints soil formation acrylic prints decomposition acrylic prints agricultural pest acrylic prints mycorrhiza acrylic prints primitive animal acrylic prints sem acrylic prints agriculture acrylic prints scanning electron micrograph acrylic prints

photographs springtail photos collembola photos hexapod photos simple eye photos ocelli photos antennae photos soil formation photos decomposition photos agricultural pest photos mycorrhiza photos primitive animal photos sem photos agriculture photos scanning electron micrograph photos

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Scanning electron micrograph of a springtail. Springtails are primitive hexapods, classed as Collembola. They evolved 400 million years ago. The picture shows the simple eyes on either side of the (0.2mm wide) head, each consisting of five ocelli. These are a primitive feature, as are the short club-like antennae, picture top. Springtails are one of the most numerous animals on Earth; a hectare of meadowland may contain 500 million individuals in the top 25cm of soil. They play an important role in the decomposition of organic materials, by fragmenting leaf litter, and consuming plant and animal remains, fungal hyphae and bacteria. There are over 3500 species of springtail. A small number are agricultural pests; however, many more transport spores of mycorrhizal fungi on their rough integument. Springtails are undoubtedly a beneficial - indeed, essential - part of the soil environment.

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