Pseudobourletiella
Stach, 1956
Species Guides
1Pseudobourletiella is a of globular springtails in the Bourletiellidae, established by J. Stach in 1956. The genus is distributed across North and South America, with at least one , P. spinata, introduced to Asia. Members are associated with aquatic or semi-aquatic , particularly still water surfaces.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Pseudobourletiella: //ˌsjuːdoʊˌbɔːrlɪˈtiːɛlə//
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Identification
At least one , P. spinata, exhibits a distinctive white cross-shaped marking near the . Coloration in this species ranges from green, grey, dark purple, or brown, with a metallic blue color form documented in Maryland. are yellow with purple, semi-hairy tips.
Images
Habitat
Associated with still water surfaces, including lakes. At least one uses water tension to remain upright on the water surface.
Distribution
Recorded from Amazon, Caribbean mainland, northern North America, Pacific North America, and southern North America. The P. spinata has been introduced to Asia.
Seasonality
P. spinata has been observed active in summer months.
Diet
P. spinata has been observed feeding on and submerged wood.
Behavior
P. spinata has been observed utilizing water surface tension to maintain an upright position on still water.
More Details
Taxonomic note
Classified under Collembola in most sources, though iNaturalist places the in class (an alternative grouping for some hexapods including springtails).
Observational data
The has 581 observations on iNaturalist, suggesting moderate documentation effort, though Wikipedia lacks a summary entry for the genus itself.