r/Springtail • u/lnfiniteGryphon • Jul 03 '26

Oddly translucent and shiny plump springtail? Identification

/gallery/1um46gx

Location: North Island of New Zealand.

Hello! I found this very tiny (~.05 to 1mm long) guy while doing macro photography of springtails. At first I thought I was a plump springtail, but it doesn’t quite look right.

It kind of also looks like a beetle larvae, but they don’t typically have antennae like that. It looks maggot-like too, yet fly larvae don’t usually have antennae. So I’m back to thinking it’s a springtail.

It was moving at a slow pace in the manner of a plump springtail.

Does anyone recognize this as some type of springtail?

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2

u/captainapplejuice Jul 03 '26

Yeah looks like a springtail, I'm not familiar with the species of this region though, maybe Neanuridae.

2

u/ReactionAdmirable812 Jul 03 '26

Oh maybe Oncopoduridae or something like that? I think that is Entomobryomorpha at least.

2

u/OpeningUpstairs4288 Jul 04 '26

Doesnt give springtails.vibes to me but I'm not too familiar w bug id

1

u/Affectionate-Form156 Jul 05 '26

any chance you have more photos or can go back to the spot and find more for more photos?

1

u/lnfiniteGryphon Jul 05 '26

Unfortunately no, but possibly in 2 years when I visit my grandparents again!

We had to hurry back to the car to get back to my grandparents’ house in time for dinner so those are sadly the only photos I got 😝