Hypogastrura sp.
ELONGATE-BODIED SPRINGTAIL (Hypogastruridae)

Description
Snow Fleas are very small ranging in size from about 1/16 to 1/8 inch. They are dark brown to black with short 4-segmented antennae and short legs. Characteristics of this Hexapod are sparse dorsal hairs, small anal spines and 8 ocelli in each eyepatch. They are wingless.

Occurrence
Snow Fleas are found in winter and early spring usually in snow patches. The ones pictured here were seen in large numbers on fallen logs on March 21, 2014 in the Fontenelle Forest wetlands.

Comments
Male Hexapods in the Order Collembola deposit sperm in a packet (spermatophore). The female then picks up the packet with her genital opening. There are 81 species in the genus Hypogastrura in North America.

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