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Entomobryomorpha · Entomobryidae

Entomobryoides purpurascens

A fast springtail that lives near ants in nature.A runner linked to ant nests, sold as the Wood Runner Springtail and named at genus and species level in 2026. Anecdotal 1

Also sold or known as

This page is partly filled in

Some sections have little or no evidence yet. Each gap says so rather than guessing.

Side view drawing of Entomobryoides purpurascens, drawn from sourced body proportions. It is a drawing, not a photograph.
Drawing
Schematic plate drawn from the group and the keeper colour name. Proportions and eye count are not measured from a specimen. Colour is not recorded.

No size is recorded for this species yet, so true size is not available.

At a glance

Difficulty
Moderate Anecdotal 2
Growth
Moderate Anecdotal 2
Best enclosures
Arid terrarium, Semi-arid terrarium A model estimate from the ranges on this page. See every enclosure type
In trade
Regularly available As of Oct 22, 2026. Anecdotal 2
Identification
Strongly supported Stable How sure we are

Not recorded yet: Size, Temperature, Air humidity.

Identification

No source read for this site describes the colour of this species. Unknown Open question What colour and pattern does *Entomobryoides purpurascens* show?

Characters to check

These are the features recorded for this species. Each row says what kit you need to read it.

Character What it looks like Needs
Body form Long and slim The body is long and slim with clearly visible segments, long antennae and long legs. / Slim tube The body is a smooth tube with segments you can see, and shorter antennae and legs. Varies Inherited: Entomobryomorpha 3 Naked eye
Antenna segments Four plain segments The antenna has four clear segments and none is divided into rings. / Divided into rings At least one segment is split into small rings, which makes the antenna look jointed. Varies Inherited: Collembola 4 Stereo microscope
Mouth shape Blunt mouth The mouth is blunt and the head is rounded in front. Inherited: Entomobryomorpha 3 Hand loupe
Spines on the tail end No spines The last abdominal segment has no spines. Inherited: Entomobryomorpha 3 Stereo microscope
9 characters have no record yet

Nobody has recorded these for this species, so the key treats them as unknown and never guesses.

  • Body length
  • Main colour
  • Colour pattern
  • Surface texture
  • Scales
  • Antenna length
  • Eyes
  • Eye count
  • Jumping organ

Identify an animal you have

Answer in any order, with the kit you have.

Husbandry and breeding

  • Difficulty Moderate
  • Growth Moderate
  • Yield Moderate
Airflow
High Anecdotal 2
Moisture gradient
Keep about 75% of the substrate dry. Anecdotal 2

Foods

  • Commercial springtail mix Good 2
  • Dry yeast Good 2
  • Fish flakes Occasional 2

Substrates

  • Peat-based soil Good 2

The evidence in detail

Springtails US rates it Intermediate level. Anecdotal 2
Model assumption Springtails US scores its reproduction rate 6 out of 10. The site reads that as moderate growth and a moderate yield. Anecdotal 2
Springtails US cultures it on soil. It advises a moisture gradient with about 75% of the substrate dry, plus a large amount of ventilation on the dry side. Anecdotal 2
Feed once or twice a week with a springtail food mix, brewer's yeast, another yeast or fish food. Anecdotal 2

Tools

Print a care card

Key numbers and a QR code back to this page.

Bioactive compatibility

Fit by enclosure type

A model estimate from the climate each enclosure type holds and the ranges recorded for this species. It is not a measurement.

Enclosure type Fit Why
Arid terrarium A dry, well ventilated desert terrarium with a hot basking spot, kept for bearded dragons and similar animals. See where it ranks Good fit
  • Sellers culture it with 75% of the substrate dry, which suits a substrate that stays dry.
  • Airflow is high, which is what this species is kept with.
Semi-arid terrarium A mostly dry terrarium with a damp hide and a warm spot, kept for leopard geckos and similar grassland or scrub animals. See where it ranks Good fit
  • Sellers culture it with 75% of the substrate dry, which suits a substrate that stays mostly dry.
  • Airflow is medium. This species is usually kept with high airflow.
Potted plant A houseplant pot with an open top, watered on a schedule so the soil dries a little between waterings. See where it ranks Marginal fit
  • Sellers culture it with 75% of the substrate dry. A substrate that stays damp is only a partial match.
  • Airflow is high, which is what this species is kept with.
Open tropical terrarium A tall terrarium with mesh ventilation and daily misting that dries out between sprays, kept for crested geckos and similar climbers. See where it ranks Marginal fit
  • Sellers culture it with 75% of the substrate dry. A substrate that stays damp is only a partial match.
  • Airflow is medium. This species is usually kept with high airflow.
Isopod tub A ventilated tub of organic substrate and leaf litter with a damp end and a dry end, kept for isopod colonies. See where it ranks Marginal fit
  • Sellers culture it with 75% of the substrate dry. A substrate that stays damp is only a partial match.
  • Airflow is medium. This species is usually kept with high airflow.
Temperate woodland vivarium A cool, damp vivarium with leaf litter, bark and a moisture gradient, kept for fire salamanders and similar woodland amphibians. See where it ranks Marginal fit
  • Sellers culture it with 75% of the substrate dry, so a substrate that stays wet is a poor match.
  • Airflow is medium. This species is usually kept with high airflow.
Closed tropical terrarium A glass terrarium with a lid and little ventilation, misted often, kept for dart frogs and other animals from humid forest. See where it ranks Marginal fit
  • Sellers culture it with 75% of the substrate dry, so a substrate that stays wet is a poor match.
  • Airflow is low. This species is usually kept with high airflow, which is a big difference.

Animals that eat springtails mean the springtails need topping up. The explorer shows which species keep up with the animals in your enclosure. Open the compatibility explorer

Natural history and distribution

In trade
Regularly available in North America. As of Oct 22, 2026. Anecdotal 2
The identifying collembologist said the species can be associated with ant nests. It has been documented picking up pre-killed Folsomia candida and running off to eat them in private, and the seller has seen the same with grains of yeast in another Entomobryoides. Anecdotal 1
Springtails US listed it as in stock on 22 October 2026. Anecdotal 2

Taxonomy and naming history

It was sold as Entomobrya sp. Wood Runner Springtail. In 2026 a collembologist identified it as Entomobryoides purpurascens. The seller notes the species is fairly widely sold, so the old name will linger. Anecdotal 1, 5

How sure the name is

Name type
Exact name The name has been matched against the published description.
Confidence
Strongly supported Several lines of evidence agree.
Evidence for the name
Body form, checked by an expert
Stability
Stable Sources agree and the name has not moved in years.
Review
Reviewed by a curator

GBIF lists Entomobryoides purpurascens (A.S.Packard, 1872). Checked Oct 22, 2026.

Classification

Trade and hobby names

Trade names are not taxonomy. Each one is a label that sellers use, with its own page.

Name Kind How likely
Wood Runner Springtail Trade name Likely
Wood Runner Trade name Strongly supported

Names used

Name Relationship Author Note
Entomobrya sp. Historical trade identification The earlier genus-level label. 1

Open questions and sources

Open questions

  • 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.

  • 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

    Major Springtail Hobby Identification Updates (2026)

    Pavy R. 2026. Springtails US

    Link works · Retailer

    Cited at Entomobrya sp Wood Runner Springtail.

  2. 2

    Springtail Care Sheet

    Springtails US

    Link works · Retailer

    Cited at Entomobryoides purpurascens entry.

  3. 3

    Biology of the Springtails (Insecta: Collembola)

    Hopkin SP. 1997. Oxford University Press

    Verified against a registry · Specialist monograph

    Cited at chapter on external morphology.

  4. 4

    Checklist of the Collembola of the World

    Bellinger PF, Christiansen KA, Janssens F

    Link works · Authoritative database

    Cited at Introduction, external anatomy and morphology.

  5. 5

    Springtail Identification and Common Name Resource

    Pavy R. Springtails US

    Link works · Retailer

    Cited at hobby name list, Entomobryoides purpurascens.

Spotted a mistake or know a better source?

Page data reviewed Oct 22, 2026