A behaviour thought to be absent in #bristletails (Archaeognatha) has been observed for the first time.

A male 𝘗𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘬𝘬𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 from Hokkaido, Japan was filmed cleaning its antennae - using its foreleg to help hold the antenna near its mouthparts during the process.
doi.org/10.3897/dez....

Classification of Insects - Archaeognatha Jumping bristletail, Dilta sp. (c) Tim Jonas 2023

🎄 #InsectAdvent Day 23 features jumping #Bristletails!

#Archaeognatha (or #Microcoryphia) are primitive, wingless insects and can leap 30mm to escape predators by flexing their abdomen. They feed mostly on algae, lichens or decaying plant material.

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Mottled-brown, elongate insect with long antenna and a long terminal filament hanging out on a light green field of lichen.

Cropped view of the head showing two large eyes that are pale green with splotches of amber.

I'm not sure what species of bristletail (Archaeognatha) this is but check out its groovy eyes. It moved like a predator but I gather they eat lichen. And can jump. Lake Mohonk, NY. 🌿 #insects #bristletails

Only 15 sleeps to astronomical spring. Meteorological spring has arrived but that doesn't quite count.

#bristletails #ukwildlife #ukfauna #dorsetwildlife #365dayswild #winterwatch #nature #naturephotography #Purbeck #livingfossil #insects

A jumping bristletail on a rock

#bristletails (order: Archaeognatha/Microcoryphia) are an obscure group of tiny primitive #insects that most of us overlook or don’t even notice.
(Shot near Cincinnati 7-19-24) #invert #photography #macrophotography #insect #invertefest #bugsky

#flies, #butterflies, #moths, #beetles, #bees, #ants, #wasps, #bugs, #thrips, #lice, #cockroaches, #termites, #mayflies, #dragonflies, #damselflies, #bristletails, #crustaceans, #centipedes, #spiders, #ticks, #mites, #scorpions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5hCcw16UE8