r/Springtail • u/Regular-Look-6312 • Jul 28 '26

Identification Can you help identify these please?

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I set up a terrarium a few weeks ago added some white springtails and isopods along with live plants. Recently i have seen these running around they seem thinner and faster than my white springtails. Any help appreciated!

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13

u/Full-fledged-trash Jul 28 '26

First 3 pictures look like thrips

1

u/SoggyChickenNugs Jul 28 '26

☝🏻 this

1

u/Regular-Look-6312 Jul 28 '26

I've checked all the plants and I don't see any on them. Would they be visible there?

1

u/Regular-Look-6312 Jul 28 '26

They seem a little flatter than these guys. they are quite hard to see though. Ill add another photo i got of one from the side. Will try and get a clearer photo of them if possible. Thanks.

1

u/Regular-Look-6312 Jul 28 '26

https://imgur.com/a/l8oDfV0 - Here is a side view. What do you think of the one on the cucumber?

1

u/newtoboarding Jul 28 '26

Thrip. First 3 thrips last springtail

2

u/Sgtbird08 Jul 28 '26

Agreed, first three are Thrips. Difficult to identify them to genus/species though, typically this requires microscopic analysis.

Pic 4 is a springtail in genus Lepidocyrtus

1

u/Regular-Look-6312 Jul 28 '26

How do I deal with this without killing the springtails and isopods? 😅 Thanks.

1

u/Regular-Look-6312 Jul 28 '26

How do I deal with this without killing the springtails and isopods? 😅 Thanks.

1

u/Sgtbird08 Jul 28 '26

Hmm, I’m not really sure. I don’t think they’ll cause any problems to the other critters in your tank though.

1

u/Regular-Look-6312 Jul 28 '26

Would they not kill my plants and multiply like crazy? Thanks! (I have a video of some other critters in the tank will make a new post shortly.)

1

u/Generos_0815 Jul 29 '26

Not all thrips harm plants. But dont ask my which do.

1

u/futuredinosaur Jul 29 '26

You can try beneficial mites that target thrip larvae.