Giant Springtail vs Spotted Springtail

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Giant Springtail Spotted Springtail
Scientific Name Tetrodontophora bielanensis Orchesella cincta
Order Collembola Collembola
Family Onychiuridae Entomobryidae
Size 6.0-9.0 mm 3.0-5.0 mm
Habitat Forests Forests
Diet Detritivores Detritivores
Regions Europe Europe
Conservation Not Evaluated Not Evaluated

Giant Springtail

One of the largest springtails in the world, with a metallic blue body. It lives in forest soil and leaf litter in Central Europe.

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Did You Know?

At up to 9 mm long, this species is a giant among springtails which typically measure less than 2 mm.

Spotted Springtail

A large banded springtail found in leaf litter and under bark in European forests. It has distinctive dark and yellow banding.

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Did You Know?

This is the first springtail species to have its metallothionein genes fully characterized for pollution biomonitoring.