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Description

Pinbacks are micropneumonopteres that developed their setae into defensive spines. Because of their defense, they are very visible creatures, foraging for food in the open, mostly for smaller animals, but they will also feed on carrion and open wounds of plants and animals alike. Many species feed on certain types of microorganisms, lithophytes and vermiphytes as well, to make use of their poisons. In these species, the spines are porose and contain sponge-like tissue at their core which excrete the poison. A more sophisciated method of applying poison to would-be predators is used by some of the more derived species, where the thorns are hollow and the sponge-like tissue is only present at the base, with the poisonous fluid being only ejected when pressure is applied; these species can be recognized by the bumps the spines are situated on. The poisons used are usually more irritating than dangerous, meant to drive predators away, but some smaller, gregarious species are lethal. Pinbacks have a cosmopolitan distribution, but are particularly species-rich in the tropical areas.

Longlipped Thornlouse: Thornlouses are semi-sessile vermiphyte parasites that use their elongated lips like syringes to feed on their host's tissue fluids. The majority of the species is flightless, the wings only being used for respiration and defensive displays. Most of them prefer poisonous vermiphytes as hosts and accumulate the toxins in their whole bodies rather than just the sponge tissue in their spines.

Blackheaded Rattler: Rattlers live in a symbiotic relationship with several different types of small to medium-sized tentaculopods and tetragnathes. They attach themselves with their sucker-bearing feet on the second and third leg pairs and let themselves be carried around in exchange for aiding their partner with defense. They have dimorphic spines, with the shorter ones being thicker and hollow. These spines are rubbed against the longer spines, with their lamellae creating a rattling sound, which gives them their name.

Description

Pinbacks are micropneumonopteres that developed their setae into defensive spines. Because of their defense, they are very visible creatures, foraging for food in the open, mostly for smaller animals, but they will also feed on carrion and open wounds of plants and animals alike. Many species feed on certain types of microorganisms, lithophytes and vermiphytes as well, to make use of their poisons. In these species, the spines are porose and contain sponge-like tissue at their core which excrete the poison. A more sophisciated method of applying poison to would-be predators is used by some of the more derived species, where the thorns are hollow and the sponge-like tissue is only present at the base, with the poisonous fluid being only ejected when pressure is applied; these species can be recognized by the bumps the spines are situated on. The poisons used are usually more irritating than dangerous, meant to drive predators away, but some smaller, gregarious species are lethal. Pinbacks have a cosmopolitan distribution, but are particularly species-rich in the tropical areas.

Longlipped Thornlouse: Thornlouses are semi-sessile vermiphyte parasites that use their elongated lips like syringes to feed on their host's tissue fluids. The majority of the species is flightless, the wings only being used for respiration and defensive displays. Most of them prefer poisonous vermiphytes as hosts and accumulate the toxins in their whole bodies rather than just the sponge tissue in their spines.

Blackheaded Rattler: Rattlers live in a symbiotic relationship with several different types of small to medium-sized tentaculopods and tetragnathes. They attach themselves with their sucker-bearing feet on the second and third leg pairs and let themselves be carried around in exchange for aiding their partner with defense. They have dimorphic spines, with the shorter ones being thicker and hollow. These spines are rubbed against the longer spines, with their lamellae creating a rattling sound, which gives them their name.