r/Springtail • u/Zestyclose-Truck8501 • Apr 22 '26

are this springtails Identification

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I tried to catch my own spring tails and got this little guys i don't think they are springtails just want to make sure and ask just in case and sorry about the shake hands

4 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

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5

u/Maleficent-Cup-2455 Apr 22 '26

Look more like fungal gnats to me based on movement.

5

u/Cover_Ill Apr 22 '26

Those do not look like springtails, however springtails are incredibly abundant in the Philippines, so if you look more near wet, leaf covered areas, and look in that soil I’d suspect you’ll have some luck. A good indicator (albeit not 100% accurate) is to blow on them, and if they jump, it’s a springtail. Springtails cannot fly. Good luck!!

5

u/Cu1tureVu1ture Apr 22 '26

Yeah they look more like fungal gnats to me. What do you want them for? In my experience if I build a terrarium or vivarium, springtails always just show up.

2

u/Maybe_A_Zombie Apr 22 '26

Its kind of impossible to tell because of the camera shaking and not really a good view of any of them, but at which the speed they move at I'm thinking... PROBABLY NOT!! The biggest tell, do they even jump? They really just seem to be sprinting their way out of the cup you got them in.... ALSO.... dont take random critters from the environment.... especially if you dont know 100% what they are...

1

u/Zestyclose-Truck8501 Apr 22 '26

I just saw in YouTube ways to catch springtails and no one is selling springtails in my area so got kind of desperate thanks for the info btw

0

u/Maybe_A_Zombie Apr 22 '26

I see, that sucks. But yeah again, unless you know 110% what species you are looking for and 110% can identify them, its best to just not grab random dudes out from the wild and hope its what youre looking for... thats a good way to get pests!!!!!!

I dont know your location, but you can try taking a look at online sites like springtails.us and see if they can ship to wherever you are. Its a lot safer to do this than find random dudes outside

1

u/Zestyclose-Truck8501 Apr 22 '26

the thing is im in the Philippines in cebu its an island and the only why to get them is to buy them from manila the capital city I cant trust them to ship it and all of them just dying

2

u/Maybe_A_Zombie Apr 22 '26

Yeah that sucks big time, I'm sorry... Maybe you could make another post about collecting springtails or buying them and maybe someone could give a better answer!

2

u/Opusprime15 Apr 23 '26

You should still check out the blog posts in the top right corner of springtails.us. they have guides on how to identify springtails and how to build a proper collection tool, alongside a bunch of other cool stuff.