Globular Springtail vs Svalbard Springtail

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Globular Springtail Svalbard Springtail
Scientific Name Sminthurus viridis Folsomia quadrioculata
Order Collembola Collembola
Family Sminthuridae Isotomidae
Size 1-2.5 mm 1-2 mm
Habitat Grasslands Tundra & Arctic
Diet Herbivores Detritivores
Regions Europe, Australia, North America Svalbard, Scandinavia, Iceland, northern Russia, Arctic Canada
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Globular Springtail

A round-bodied green springtail found in grasslands and agricultural fields. It can become a pest of clover and alfalfa crops.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the few springtails that feeds on living plants and can damage crops.

Svalbard Springtail

A small, pale springtail with only four simple eyes, for which it is named. It is extremely common in Arctic soils where it plays a major role in decomposition. Populations can reach densities of thousands per square meter.

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Did You Know?

This springtail is so abundant in Arctic soils that it is considered one of the most important decomposer organisms in tundra ecosystems.