Dicyrtomina saundersi is its name, and not an insect (although previously considered to be) but a springtail. There is a kind of ‘spaceman’ like figure in the pattern towards the head, and a distinct dark barred patch towards the rear of the abdomen which helps separate it from similar species.
It looked directly up at me here … and appears to have kinda smiled, or may be it was a grimace?
This is a young one, a juvenile, and a female with the pale cheeks. It is around 2 mm (5/64 in) long.
Seen all year round under stones and bark in various habitats. A native species, and fairly common and widespread throughout Britain.
You can double-click images to enlarge once passed the advertising landing page.
Nature Journeys 
I think it smiled at you.😀
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🙂
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Nice photos for 2 mm!
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Thank you, Hans 🙂
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Some Collembola? Cute!
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Yes, collembola. Thank you 🙂
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Yes, cuter than cute (besides from squirrel of course ;-)! They are really incredible cute. Pale cheeks, wow, you have sharp eyes 🙂 Wonderful pictures. I love it.
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Yes, besides the squirrel 🙂 Thank you very much! 🙂
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It’s sporting quite the antennae!
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Yes, those antennae are quite something!
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Wow – what eyes!
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The eyes always do it for me 🙂
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Me too! Excellent shot, as always.
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Thank you 🙂
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It is cute. Very nice detail, Pete!
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Thank you, Belinda 🙂
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Amazing little thing! Neat patterns on it.
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Thank you, Eliza 🙂
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Really cute!
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Thank you, Anki 🙂
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I have yet to find one of these here. Fine macro work, Pete.
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Many thanks, Gary 🙂 This was a surprise new species for me here.
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You have the sharpest eyes on the planet – and we benefit from your keen observations.
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Many thanks, Anne 🙂
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Very cute indeed and as you say, almost smiling up at you.
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🙂 Thank you, Vicki 🙂
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Cute like Kawaii style anime. I love the details you captured! Nice work Pete! Take good care
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I never saw them that way, but now I do 🙂 Thank you, Sandra 🙂
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‘Seen all year round….’ or rather not seen by almost everyone. Thank you for the introduction to another overlooked beastie!
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They are usually hiding away doing their thing 🙂
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Incidentally, I keep landing on the ‘start your own blog’ page when trying to double-click images in your recent posts. Is there a trick for getting past this?
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I have images set to the media file, and they tend to go to a white screen with image at first, an advertising landing page, and then click again you can usually open them up proper. I tried in a different browser and all seems to be working fine, so I don’t know what gremlins are doing in here?
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Thanks. I’ll try again.
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This is the first time springtails came under my attention, thanks to your pictures. I already googled them and they are fascinating.
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Thank you, Rudi 🙂 Because of their size they can be often overlooked. I am glad they have come to your attention 🙂
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I see the spaceman! Artistry in miniature.
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Nice one, Adele! 🙂
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That really is very cute and baby like. Ill be looking out for one as ive certainly not seen aything like it before.
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I have found these under loose bark I keep around the garden, but there are plenty of fallen autumnal leaves around, and I have seen one or two on them also. They seem to be everywhere at the moment, so I hope you get to see some!
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