Seira dowlingi

A slender silvery springtail.A silvery Seira that was sold as Entomobrya sp. Silver Springtail until a Florida state entomologist named it Seira dowlingi. 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.

Drawing

Schematic plate drawn from the group and the keeper colour name. Proportions and eye count are not measured from a specimen.

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: Probable Classifications conflict How sure we are

Not recorded yet: Size, Temperature, Air humidity.

Identification

The earlier hobby name Silver Springtail points to a silvery animal. Anecdotal 1

Characters to check

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

10 Characters to check
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. Inherited: Seira 3	Naked eye
Main colour	Silvery or shimmering A metallic shimmer that changes with the light. 1	Naked eye
Scales	Scales present The body is covered in flat scales that give a shimmer or a tiled look. Inherited: Seira 3	Hand loupe
Antenna length	Longer than the body The antennae are clearly longer than the whole body. Inherited: Seira 3	Phone macro
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
Eyes	Eyes present Dark eye patches sit on both sides of the head. Inherited: Seira 3	Phone macro
Eye count	Eight Eight dots in each eye patch, the most a springtail can have. Inherited: Seira 3	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
Jumping organ	Long A long furca reaches forward under the body, and the animal springs when disturbed. Inherited: Seira 3	Hand loupe

3 characters have no record yet

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

Body length
Colour pattern
Surface texture

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.

Fit by enclosure type
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

Springtails US listed it as in stock on 22 October 2026. Anecdotal 2

Taxonomy and naming history

The species long needed an identification change. Specimens from a supplier were sent to a Florida state entomologist, who reached Seira dowlingi. Anecdotal 1

Experts do not agree whether this name is a separate species or a synonym of Seira musarum.On the Checklist of the Collembola the old name Drepanocyrtus dowlingi Wray, 1953 sits in the synonym list of Seira musarum Ridley, 1890. The same page carries photographs captioned Seira dowlingi from Brazil, the USA and China, credited to a 2019 study by Cipola and colleagues. Whether Seira dowlingi is a valid species is therefore open on this site. Expert source 4 Open question Is *Seira dowlingi* a valid species or a synonym of *Seira musarum*?

The sources disagree about this name

The Checklist lists Seira dowlingi as a synonym of Seira musarum
The two providers disagree about whether this is a valid name

How sure the name is

Name type: Exact name The name has been matched against the published description.
Confidence: Probable More likely than not, with gaps left.
Evidence for the name: Body form, checked by an expert
Stability: Classifications conflict Sources place this animal differently.
Review: Reviewed by a curator

Classification

Trade and hobby names

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

Trade and hobby names
Name	Kind	How likely
Entomobrya sp. Silver	Historical label	Likely
Silver Springtail	Common name	Possible
Small Silver Springtail	Trade name	Possible
Seira dowlingi	Trade name	Probable

Names used

Names used
Name	Relationship	Author	Note
Entomobrya sp. Silver Springtail	Historical trade identification		The earlier label. The seller says silver is normally reserved for Lepidocyrtus and may change. 1

External records

GBIF species page

Open questions and sources

Open questions

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.
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

Springtail Identification and Common Name Resource

Pavy R. Springtails US

Link works · Retailer

Cited at Entomobrya sp Silver Seira dowlingi; hobby name list, Seira dowlingi.
2

Springtail Care Sheet

Springtails US

Link works · Retailer

Cited at Seira dowlingi entry.
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

Checklist of the Collembola of the World

Bellinger PF, Christiansen KA, Janssens F

Link works · Authoritative database

Cited at Introduction, external anatomy and morphology; Seirinae, Seira musarum synonyms and image captions.

Spotted a mistake or know a better source?

Page data reviewed Oct 22, 2026

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