Springtail Wiki

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Trade name

Small Silver Springtail

Trade name North America

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

Sold as Small Silver Springtail. The best match is Entomobryomorpha, 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

    Entomobryomorpha

    A group of species, not one species.

    The seller lists Entomobryomorpha sp. as the Small Silver Springtail. The seller says there was not enough data at the time to say more. Anecdotal 1

  • Possible

    Seira dowlingi

    Sold as the hobby culture Seira dowlingi

    Several stocks are sold under silver names, and Seira dowlingi was traded as Entomobrya sp. Silver Springtail. Anecdotal 1

Where the name comes from

The seller has too little data to say whether this stock has also been sold under another name. 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

  • Which species is this culture, checked by a specialist?

    Identification Needs a voucher specimen

    Why it matters. Hobby cultures are mostly named from a seller's label or a photograph. A wrong name spreads from seller to keeper and then into care advice.

    What would help. Preserved vouchers from the culture in 80 to 95 percent ethanol, mounted specimens examined by a springtail specialist, and a DNA barcode where a reference exists. Deposit the voucher with a museum or a university collection.

Sources

  1. 1

    Springtail Identification and Common Name Resource

    Pavy R. Springtails US

    Link works · Retailer

    Cited at hobby name list, Entombryomorpha sp "Small Silver"; hobby name list, Seira dowlingi; 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.