Protura

Arthropoda -> Hexapoda -> Entognatha -> Protura

Commonly referred to as ‘Coneheads’, Protura are tiny (0.5 - 2 mm) Hexapods and exceptionally difficult to spot. As such they were only relatively recently discovered - in the early 20th century, both Filippo Silvestri and Antonio Berlese (of ‘Berlese Funnel’ fame) independently discovered them, and since then almost 800 species have been described worldwide. Protura are wingless, eyeless and lack pigmentation and antennae. Instead, they raise their front pair of legs forwards as they move, which are covered in sensory hairs. This gives them the slightly comical appearance of a villain in Scooby-Do trying to sneak up menacingly behind someone. Protura are still something of a scientific mystery, with their taxonomic position within the Hexapoda uncertain, and their dietary preferences not fully known either (although with sucking mouthparts they likely feed on fungi at least). While I desperately continue to find some more Protura to photograph, I encourage you to visit Andy Murray’s page on them here, where you can find lots of great images on their behaviour.