COLLEMBOLA > PODUROMORPHA > ONYCHIUROIDEA > Onychiuridae

All the members of this particular family share the same primary distinguishing features in that they pretty much lack any body pigmentation, have short appendages with the antennae being shorter than the head, no functioning furca and no eyes.

Most of these species are very difficult, if not impossible, to identify from photos, but fortunately that's not the case with Kalaphorura burmeisteri as it has a distinctive 'Michelin-man' appearance with well-developed thoracic segments, coupled with a proportionally large head and near club-like antennae.  

They are a creamy-white colour, around 3mm long, with a body that is typically widest around the first and second abdominal segments and then slowly tapering off to the rear end where there are a pair of prominent anal spines. Like most poduromorphs they lack any form of functioning furca although, if you were able to look at the underside, there are two small smooth vestigial bumps. They are also effectively blind as they don't have ocelli in the conventional sense, just a pair of tiny pseudocelli which I doubt you'd be able to see in anything other than a really detailed highly magnified photo.

Kalaphorura burmeisteri is said to be reasonably common in southern England and Wales, but far more scarce further north. The most likely place to find the species is under decaying deadwood or fallen branches, amongst leaf litter, or occasionally under stones. I suspect it's a species that could be encountered at any time of the year as I found the individuals featured below on a pretty cold day in the middle winter.