Belted springtails

These are belted springtails (Orchesella cincta). The specific name cincta means "belted" and refers to the distinctive colouration of the third abdominal segment. Their characteristic banding is a beautiful sight! They also grow extremely big for springtails. On average they reach about 4 mm in length.

This species tends to prefer dry, well-ventilated air with deeper substrate moisture. In nature, this species lives in soil and among leaf litter in woodland. In the laboratory it can be maintained on twigs covered with green algae. It also feeds on yeast and fish flakes.