Springtail Wiki

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Trade name

Tiny Blue Springtail

Common name North America

Also written as: Tiny Blue, Tiny Blue Springtails, Tinny Blue Springtail

Sold as Tiny Blue Springtail. The most likely species is Xenylla grisea.

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.

  • Likely

    Xenylla grisea

    Sold as the hobby culture Tiny Blue (Lake Keystone)

    The seller lists Xenylla grisea as the Tiny Blue Springtail from the Lake Keystone, Oklahoma locale. It was sold before as Hypogastruridae sp. Anecdotal 1, 2

  • Possible

    Poduromorpha

    A group of species, not one species.

    The seller lists a different stock, Poduromorpha sp., under the same common name. A different species or locality has been sold as Tiny Blue. Anecdotal 1

How to tell them apart

No source read for this site describes how to tell the Lake Keystone stock from the other Tiny Blue stock. Ask for the locality and a microscope identification. Unknown Open question How many species are sold as the Tiny Blue Springtail?

Where the name comes from

The old label only reached family level. The seller asks everyone to keep the common name and the locality attached to every culture of this species, because other localities share the common name. Anecdotal 2

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

  • How many species are sold as the Tiny Blue Springtail?

    Trade names Needs a voucher specimen

    Why it matters. A seller says a different species or locality has been sold under the same common name as the Lake Keystone stock. Buyers cannot tell which one they have.

    What would help. Vouchers and locality notes from each culture sold under the name, checked under a microscope.

Sources

  1. 1

    Springtail Identification and Common Name Resource

    Pavy R. Springtails US

    Link works · Retailer

    Cited at hobby name list, Xenylla grisea "Tiny Blue Springtail"; 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.