Springtail Wiki

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Trade name

Silver Springtail

Common name North America

Also written as: Silver Springtails, Sliver Springtail, Silver Springtale

Sold as Silver Springtail. The best match is Seira dowlingi, but nothing fits better than possible.

I bought this Open the key with this name selected. It starts from the species behind the name and asks what you can see.

What you probably have

These are the species the name may stand for. The order and the words show how sure we are.

  • Possible

    Seira dowlingi

    Sold as the hobby culture Seira dowlingi

    Seira dowlingi was traded as Entomobrya sp. Silver Springtail until a Florida state entomologist gave the new identification. Anecdotal 1

  • Possible

    Lepidocyrtus

    A group of species, not one species.

    The seller notes that silver is typically reserved for Lepidocyrtus and lists Lepidocyrtus sp. Silver Springtails as a separate stock. Anecdotal 1

  • Possible

    Entomobryomorpha

    A group of species, not one species.

    The seller also lists a Collembola sp. Silver Springtail and an Entomobryomorpha sp. Small Silver with too little data to say whether they are the same stock. Anecdotal 1

Where the name comes from

At least four stocks have been sold under silver names. The seller says the silver name may change eventually for the Seira stock, because it is typically kept for Lepidocyrtus. Anecdotal 1

If you sell or buy under this name

Tip Keep the common name and the collection locality attached to every culture. One common name can cover stock from different localities and sometimes different species. Anecdotal 1, 2
Tip Sell stock under a species name only after a microscope has confirmed it, and buy from sellers who can trace the stock back to a microscope identification. Anecdotal 1

What would settle it

Sources

  1. 1

    Springtail Identification and Common Name Resource

    Pavy R. Springtails US

    Link works · Retailer

    Cited at Scientific name changes, Entomobrya sp "Silver"; hobby name list, Seira dowlingi; hobby name list, Lepidocyrtus sp "Silver Springtails"; hobby name list, Collembola sp. "Silver Springtail"; hobby name list, Entombryomorpha sp "Small Silver"; hobby name list, Poduromorpha sp "Tiny Blue Springtail"; hobby name list, Tomocerus minor "Giant Runner Springtail".

  2. 2

    Major Springtail Hobby Identification Updates (2026)

    Pavy R. 2026. Springtails US

    Link works · Retailer

    Cited at Hypogastruridae sp. Tiny Blue Springtail to Xenylla grisea.