Open questions
What nobody knows yet. Each question says why it matters and what would settle it. If you can help, that is the most useful kind of contribution.
Showing 34 of 34
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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.
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How long do individuals live in hobby cultures?
Husbandry Open
Why it matters. Culture advice depends on how fast a colony turns over. Only a few species have measured life spans, and those come from one laboratory study of one lineage.
What would help. Records of individually tracked animals at a stated temperature, food and substrate, from more than one culture of the same species. A journal export from the culture journal is a good start.
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What are the real temperature limits of each hobby species?
Husbandry Open
Why it matters. Sellers give a single comfortable range for many species with no source behind it. Keepers cannot tell where a culture starts to suffer.
What would help. Controlled trials at three or more temperatures with life span and egg counts, as the 1973 study did for one species. Keepers can contribute careful logs with a thermometer reading and a population estimate.
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How dry can each hobby species tolerate before cultures crash?
Husbandry Open
Why it matters. Springtails breathe through the body surface and many dry out fast, but tolerance differs a great deal between a cave species and a leaf-litter species.
What would help. Substrate moisture and air humidity readings logged against population change, with the container type and ventilation stated.
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At what density does each culture stop growing?
Models Open
Why it matters. The simulator needs a carrying capacity per litre. The only measured figure on the site is a laboratory loading density for one species.
What would help. Counts of animals per known volume at plateau, with the container and food regime stated.
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Which genetic lineage are hobby Common White cultures?
Molecular Open
Why it matters. Folsomia candida is at least two lineages that look alike and live differently. Care advice and published life-history numbers may fit one lineage and not another.
What would help. COI barcodes from several hobby and retail cultures, compared with the laboratory lineages described in the 2015 strain study and the 2023 genome study.
About Folsomia candida
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Is the best breeding temperature for hobby white springtails cool or warm?
Husbandry Open
Why it matters. Some sellers advise a warm room for breeding. The laboratory life-history study found the highest egg output at 15 °C59 °F and a steep fall at 26 °C79 °F for one strain.
What would help. Side-by-side cultures from the same stock held at 16 °C61 °F, 21 °C70 °F and 26 °C79 °F with weekly counts, repeated for more than one lineage.
About Folsomia candida
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Do all hobby Tropical cultures trace to one *Coecobrya tenebricosa* stock?
Molecular Open
Why it matters. The Tropical Pink and Tropical White cultures were sold for years as Sinella curviseta. One seller has now named them Coecobrya tenebricosa, but cultures that passed through many hands may not share one origin.
What would help. COI barcodes from several sellers' Tropical cultures, compared with the barcode group that a 2019 study of Polish terrariums assigned to Coecobrya tenebricosa.
About Coecobrya tenebricosa
Jaskula and colleagues 2019 on animals found in hobby terrariums
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How long is an adult *Coecobrya tenebricosa* in culture?
Identification Open
Why it matters. Body length is the first thing a keeper can check, and the size filter in the identification key needs it. No source read for this site gives a measured length.
What would help. Measured lengths of adults from a stated culture, taken from a scaled photograph or a slide, with the number of animals and the method.
About Coecobrya tenebricosa
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Is a culture sold as Tropical White a *Coecobrya* or a *Folsomia*?
Trade names Needs a voucher specimen
Why it matters. The name Tropical White is used for the pale form of Coecobrya tenebricosa and has also been used for Folsomia candida. The two want different care.
What would help. A voucher from each culture checked under a microscope, and a note of the seller and the date of purchase.
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Identification Needs a specialist
Why it matters. The 2015 revision found that the colour pattern and setae of these two overlap, and it treats North American records of Entomobrya multifasciata as questionable. A hobby culture sold under the Tiger name has not been published as checked.
What would help. Slide-mounted adults of both sexes, scored against the character table in the revision, with a COI barcode where possible.
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Will the Varicolored culture be published as a form of *Entomobrya assuta* or as something else?
Taxonomy Needs a specialist
Why it matters. The label var. nov. marks an unpublished idea, not a name. Until it is published or dropped, the culture stays an Entomobrya assuta working identification.
What would help. A DNA barcode of the culture compared with wild Entomobrya assuta from Illinois, and a specialist note on whether the patternless form is a variety, a new species or a colour variant.
About Entomobrya assuta
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Which *Willowsia* species are the hobby cultures?
Identification Needs a specialist
Why it matters. Animals filed under Willowsia nigromaculata in North America may be Willowsia neonigromaculata, a species split off in 2021. Hobby lists name Willowsia buski and Willowsia neonigromaculata.
What would help. Slide-mounted adults compared with the 2021 description, in particular the inner appendages on the maxillary sublobal plate, and a COI barcode.
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Is the Florida Orange Locality the same species as the Spanish Orange?
Identification Needs a specialist
Why it matters. Both stocks are now called Yuukianura aphoruroides, but the Florida stock was first named from images alone. The seller keeps them apart by locality.
What would help. Slide-mounted adults from both stocks, a COI barcode from each, and a record of where and when each was collected.
About Yuukianura aphoruroides
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Do Bylas Ant Springtails carry scales?
Identification Open
Why it matters. Scales are one of the quickest ways to split Entomobryomorpha. No source read for this site says whether this species has them.
What would help. A slide of an adult under high magnification showing the body surface, with a note on whether scales are present or have rubbed off.
About Pseudosinella violenta
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Which *Lobella* species is the Thai Red?
Identification Needs a specialist
Why it matters. The genus is confirmed but the seller does not plan a species identification. Pages cannot give the animal a species name without one.
What would help. Slide-mounted adults examined against the Lobella literature, with tubercle and chaetae counts, and a voucher kept with a collection.
About Lobella sp. 'Thai Red'
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What colour and pattern does *Entomobryoides purpurascens* show?
Identification Open
Why it matters. The plate has to show something. No source read for this site describes the colour, so it is drawn neutral.
What would help. A scaled photograph of live adults on a plain background with a note on lighting, and the description from the species literature.
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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.
About Xenylla grisea
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Is the Green Water culture the species *Isotomurus louisiana* or a close one?
Identification Needs a specialist
Why it matters. Colour pattern is a known problem for separating species of Isotomurus. The seller kept cf. on the name for that reason.
What would help. Slide-mounted adults checked against setae characters, with a COI barcode.
About Isotomurus cf. louisiana
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Which species are the hobby *Lepidocyrtus* cultures named Micro Gold and Pearlescent?
Identification Needs a specialist
Why it matters. Both carry the label Lepidocyrtus sp. and they must not be merged just because they share a genus. Potted plant and isopod advice depends on knowing what they are.
What would help. Slide-mounted adults compared with Lepidocyrtus keys, and a COI barcode from each culture.
About Lepidocyrtus sp. 'Micro Gold' , Lepidocyrtus sp. 'Pearlescent' , Lepidocyrtus violaceus
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What does the care sheet entry *Sinella curviseta* refer to?
Trade names Open
Why it matters. The seller says the widespread Sinella curviseta of the hobby is Coecobrya tenebricosa, yet the care sheet still lists Sinella curviseta as its own species.
What would help. A statement from the seller on whether the entry is an old label or a different culture, and a voucher if it is a different culture.
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What do *Seira purpurea* and *Seira brasiliana* look like in culture?
Identification Open
Why it matters. Both were named by microscopy in 2026 and no source read for this site describes their colour. They share a genus and look alike in photographs.
What would help. Scaled photographs of live adults and the species descriptions.
About Seira purpurea , Seira brasiliana
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Is *Seira dowlingi* a valid species or a synonym of *Seira musarum*?
Taxonomy Needs a specialist
Why it matters. The Checklist of the Collembola lists the old name among the synonyms of Seira musarum, yet a 2019 study treats Seira dowlingi as a species and the hobby uses the name.
What would help. A specialist opinion on the 2019 study and a comparison of type material.
About Seira dowlingi
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How much hobby stock sold as *Tomocerus vulgaris* is really *Tomocerus minor*?
Trade names Needs a voucher specimen
Why it matters. A seller reports cultures of both species under the vulgaris name and recommends buying only stock traced to microscopy.
What would help. Dental spine counts from slide-mounted adults of several cultures.
About Tomocerus vulgaris
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Which genera and species are the red and white neanurid hobby cultures?
Identification Needs a specialist
Why it matters. Thai Red, Thai Red Spiky, Thai Ruby, Pennywise and Santa Claus all look like plump coloured neanurids. Colour alone cannot place them, and visually different lines may or may not be different species.
What would help. Vouchers from each line scored for tubercles, setae, eyes, mouthparts and claws against the revisions of the group.
About Rambutanura sp. 'Thai Red Spiky' , Neanuridae sp. 'Santa Claus' , Lobellini sp. 'Thai Ruby' , Lobellini sp. 'Pennywise' , Lobella sp. 'Thai Red'
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Which species is the Snowflake culture?
Identification Needs a specialist
Why it matters. Eyeless pale springtails look alike. Pseudocelli, the postantennal organ, furca and setae decide the species, and none of them has been recorded for this culture.
What would help. Slide-mounted adults examined for pseudocelli, the postantennal organ and the third antennal segment organ.
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Which genus is the Purple Dust culture?
Identification Needs a specialist
Why it matters. The culture is placed at family level only. Pigment must not drive a genus guess.
What would help. Slide-mounted adults examined for eyes, furca, setae and claws.
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What do the published descriptions say about species that only have a hobby name here?
Identification Open
Why it matters. Several pages are stubs because no description was read for this site. Their identification traits, size and range are therefore blank.
What would help. The original and modern descriptions of each species, with measured lengths and diagnostic characters, added with proper citations.
About Allacma fusca , Tetrodontophora bielanensis , Orchesella flavescens , Heteromurus nitidus , Heteromurus cf. major , Pseudosinella rolfsi , Pseudosinella folsomi , Lepidocyrtus fimicolus , Xenylla humicola
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How do the hobby *Orchesella* species differ in culture?
Identification Open
Why it matters. Orchesella flavescens, Orchesella cincta and Orchesella villosa are all hairy runners, and the Springtails US lists carry two of them. A comparison is needed to avoid mixing cultures.
What would help. Scaled photographs of live adults of each species and the diagnostic characters from a modern key.
About Orchesella flavescens , Orchesella cincta , Orchesella villosa
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What does F1 mean for the Lilac culture?
Trade names Open
Why it matters. F1 normally means the first generation of a cross. Without a stated cross or line, the label tells a keeper nothing about what the animals are.
What would help. A statement from the seller of which animals were crossed or which line was founded, with the date and number of founders.
About Ceratophysella isabellae
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How wet and how ventilated are real bioactive enclosures?
Models Open
Why it matters. The compatibility explorer compares a species with an enclosure on a moisture scale and a ventilation level. Those enclosure figures are curator choices built from care sheets for the animals, not from measurements inside enclosures.
What would help. Logged readings of substrate moisture, air humidity and temperature from many keepers' enclosures, with the setup type stated.
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How fast do common enclosure animals eat springtails?
Models Open
Why it matters. The reseed calculator multiplies a base schedule by a factor for each animal. The factors are estimates. Real eating rates differ with animal age, size, enclosure size and how many hiding places the springtails have.
What would help. Counts of springtails before and after a set period in enclosures with a known animal, size and layout, or published feeding trials.
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Does the way a species is cultured predict how it does in an enclosure?
Models Open
Why it matters. The compatibility explorer matches stock that sellers culture with a dry side to drier enclosures and stock kept damp all the way through to wetter ones. That rule comes from how sellers describe their stock. No one has tested it by moving species between enclosure types.
What would help. Reports from keepers who put one species into two kinds of enclosure, with how wet each stayed and how many springtails were left after a few months.
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How do you clear mites from an established springtail culture?
Husbandry Open
Why it matters. Sellers describe how to keep mites out, but a keeper who already has them needs a tested way to save the culture.
What would help. A written method with a reported result, or a study that compares ways of removing mites from springtail cultures.
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