Snow flea
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| Snow flea | ||||||||||||||
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| Hypogastrura nivicola (Fitch, 1846) |
Snow fleas (Hypogastrura nivicola) are a species of springtail. They are so called because they can most easily be observed jumping about on the surface of snow on a warm winter day. Adults are 1–2 mm long and their dark blue color makes them appear as specks that have been compared to pepper or ashes scattered on the snow, often near trees.
Snow fleas live in soil, in mosses or in leaf litter. Sometimes they are found near ponds or even on the surface of a pond; they can walk on water. Like other springtails, they lack wings but can catapult themselves in a random direction by releasing two tail-like "spring" projections (furcula) hooked to the abdomen.
Snow fleas are decomposers and eat decaying organic matter as well as bacteria, fungi, algae, pollen, roundworms and rotifers.
After mating in the spring, females lay eggs in the soil. The emerging nymphs undergo several moltings; by winter they show all adult features.
Research at Queen's University indicated that the anti-freeze-like protein that allows snow fleas to operate in sub-zero environments may be useful for storing transplant organs and for producing better ice cream.[1] By preventing the formation of ice crystals in tissues, organs could be stored at lower temperatures, increasing their lifespan outside a living body. Unlike proteins with similar functions in other species, the protein found in snow fleas breaks down easily at higher temperatures.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ Tom Simonite. Edible antifreeze promises perfect ice cream, New Scientist, 11 January 2008
- ^ "New antifreeze protein may allow longer storage of transplant organs", Queen's University, 2005-10-21.
[edit] External links
- Pictures and information from Fairfax County Public Schools
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