Welcome, Hypomachilodes forthaysi. This new species was recently collected in Fort Hays, Kansas and described by college student, Ryan Shofner and Dr. Richard Packauskas of Fort Hays State University. Hypomachilodes forthaysi is a jumping bristletail. It can jump about 15 centimeters- pretty high for an insect only a couple of millimeters tall. The bristletails belong to the Microcoryphia, a type of wingless insect that has not changed much in appearance since the Devonian period over 400 million years ago.
The Microcoryphia typically feed on algae or decaying organic matter. They mate by external fertilization. Males attach sperm packages to silk threads that the female picks up during their courtship dance. Jumping bristletails never develop wings and can molt as adults. Some species can live up to 4 years.
Prior to the recent collections by Shofner and Packauskas jumping bristletails have not been collected from Kansas. (At least, no Kansas specimens can be found in the major entomological collections in Kansas.) Hypomachilodes forthaysi is the only species of jumping bristletail found in Kansas. There are only about 350 species of jumping bristletails world wide. Make that 351.
Scanning Electron Micrograph of Hypomachilodes forthaysi
Image: Ryan Shofner, J Kansas Entomological Society 83(4), 2010, p 343
