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Proturan (Acerentomon sp.)


Detailing the physical features, habits, territorial reach and other identifying qualities of the Proturan

Proturans are hexapods that are very rarely seen or looked for, but they are part of the insect food web.



Updated: 01/05/2022; Authored By Staff Writer; Content ©www.InsectIdentification.org
The microscopic Proturans are 6-legged creatures that live in soil. They are so small that they are shorter than this typed-out exclamation mark!
Hundreds of them can live in as little as one cup of good earth sampled from woods, healthy crop fields, and in backyards. They are virtually blind and sense their surroundings by touch and taste. Proturans scrape off bits of fungi and plant roots into their small mouths. Some species breathe through their exoskeletons, others have a trachea (windpipe). Larvae are even smaller than adults and grow a few segments at a time as they mature. As you can imagine, photos of them are hard to come by. They require intense magnification (via microscope) in order to see any detail in their physiology.©InsectIdentification.org




Known Diet of the Proturan



moss; decaying leaves and wood
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General Characteristics


Capability, Shape, Texture/Pattern, Benefits, Dangers
Segmented insect icon


Taxonomic Hierarchy


Species Breakdown
Kingdom: Animalia
  Phylum: Subphylum Hexapoda
    Class: Insecta
      Order: Protura
        Family: Acerentomidae
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          Genus: Acerentomon
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            Species: sp.

Identifying Information


Size, Colors, Features
Scientific Name: Acerentomon sp.
Category: Proturan
Size (Adult; Length): 1mm to 2mm (0.03" to 0.07")
Colorwheel Graphic Colors: yellow; brown; red
Descriptors: microscopic; segmented


Relative Size Comparison


Typical Size Between 1mm (0.0in) and 2mm (0.1in)
Lo: 1mm
Md: 1.5mm
Hi: 2mm

Territorial Map*


U.S., Canada, and Mexico
State of Alabama graphic
State of Arizona graphic
State of Arkansas graphic
State of California graphic
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State of Delware graphic
State of Florida graphic
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State of Idaho graphic
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State of Maine graphic
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State of Mississippi graphic
State of Missouri graphic
State of Montana graphic
State of Nebraska graphic
State of Nevada graphic
State of New England graphic
State of New Jersey graphic
State of New Mexico graphic
State of New York graphic
State of North Carolina graphic
State of North Dakota graphic
State of Ohio graphic
State of Oklahoma graphic
State of Oregon graphic
State of Pennsylvania graphic
State of South Carolina graphic
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State of Tennessee graphic
State of Texas graphic
State of Utah graphic
State of Virginia graphic
State of Washington graphic
State of West Virginia graphic
State of Wisconsin graphic
State of Wyoming graphic
Canadian territory of Alberta graphic
Canadian territory of British Columbia graphic
Canadian territory of Manitoba graphic
Canadian territory of New Brunswick graphic
Canadian territory of Newfoundland and Labrador graphic
Canadian territory of Ontario graphic
Canadian territory of Quebec graphic
Canadian territory of Saskatchewan graphic
Territory map graphic of the country of Mexico
Contiguous United States shape map layer graphic
Alaska  
Hawaii  
Prince Edward Is.  
* MAP NOTES: The territorial heat map above showcases (in red) the states and territories of North America where the Proturan may be found (but is not limited to). This sort of data is useful when attempting to see concentrations of particular species across the continent as well as revealing possible migratory patterns over a species' given lifespan. Some insects are naturally confined by environment, weather, mating habits, food resources and the like while others see widespread expansion across most, or all, of North America. States/Territories shown above are a general indicator of areas inhabited by the Proturan. Insects generally go where they please, typically driven by diet, environmental changes, and / or mating habits.
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