Spotted Springtail vs Garden Springtail

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Spotted Springtail Garden Springtail
Scientific Name Orchesella cincta Bourletiella hortensis
Order Collembola Collembola
Family Entomobryidae Bourletiellidae
Size 3.0-5.0 mm 1-1.5 mm
Habitat Forests Gardens
Diet Detritivores Pollen Feeders
Regions Europe Europe, North America
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

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.

Garden Springtail

A globular springtail commonly found in gardens and agricultural fields. It has a distinctive dark body with yellow markings.

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Did You Know?

It can occasionally damage seedlings by feeding on young plant tissue.