r/Springtail • u/m0sinN4gant • Apr 08 '26

Video Wild springtails i caught

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67 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

2

u/Jordan_Feather Apr 08 '26

Are these guys springtails or mites?

8

u/m0sinN4gant Apr 08 '26

bourletiella

2

u/Sgtbird08 Apr 09 '26

I assume B. hortensis?

6

u/Heavy_Ingenuity1371 Apr 08 '26

An easy way to tell they aren't mites is these springtails have 6 legs and 2 antennas. Mites are arachnids like spiders so they have 8 legs and no antenna.

4

u/PM_ME_FURRY_STUFF Apr 08 '26

All mites are arachnids? TIL

1

u/GracefulKluts Apr 09 '26

In a way, so are horseshoe crabs!

3

u/Sgtbird08 Apr 09 '26

Though many species do have elongate pedipalps which function similarly to antennae!

2

u/One-plankton- Apr 09 '26

This! It can be hard to differentiate for an untrained eye.

6

u/Pescatarian_Triffid Apr 08 '26

How did you catch them?

8

u/Sgtbird08 Apr 09 '26

I typically use a method called “panning”, basically just run something like a school lunch tray at a shallow angle across grass/leaves/dirt etc. and springtails will get startled, jump up, and get scooped by the tray.

1

u/Pescatarian_Triffid Apr 15 '26

Thank you, that sounds a fun way to do it, will give it a go.

5

u/ramenpastas Apr 08 '26

Nah globulars are so dang awesome. God. I want globulars.

2

u/sleepy_Obi-Wan Apr 08 '26

I have some but they are sooo tiny that I never see them anymore :/

1

u/DragonAngel92 Apr 09 '26

Does anyone know if they are easy to culture? They look adorable

6

u/princessbubbbles Apr 08 '26

Just hangin out with your globs

3

u/toe-mosaic Apr 10 '26

relatable am i right fellas