Springtails do not have one genus-and-species scientific name because the word “springtail” refers to a large group of related animals rather than a single species. The scientific name used for the group is Collembola.
Depending on the classification system, Collembola is treated as a class or an order. Modern taxonomic databases such as the Integrated Taxonomic Information System classify Collembola as a class, while many pest and extension resources continue to refer to springtails as the order Collembola. Either way, Collembola is the taxonomic name you will encounter when springtails are discussed as a group.
Collembola Refers to Thousands of Springtail Species
Calling Collembola the scientific name for springtails is useful, but it is not the same as giving the scientific name of a particular species.
Think of “springtail” as an umbrella name. Beneath Collembola are several major groups, followed by families, genera, and individual species. For example, Folsomides monosetis is one springtail species. Its genus is Folsomides and its species name is monosetis. It belongs to the family Isotomidae and the larger springtail group Collembola.
This is why assigning a single binomial name to every springtail would be incorrect. Two animals can both be springtails while belonging to different families, genera, and species.
Where Springtails Fit in the Animal Kingdom
Springtails are arthropods and hexapods. A simplified classification looks like this:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Collembola
Below Collembola, the group divides further. For example, the elongate-bodied springtails belong to Entomobryomorpha, while globular springtails occur within Symphypleona. Those divisions help explain why the springtails you encounter do not all have the same appearance. Some are long and slender, while others have much rounder bodies. Our guide to what springtails look like covers those visible differences in more detail.
Are Springtails Insects?
This is where springtail classification becomes more interesting. Springtails have six legs and were historically grouped with insects, which is why older references and some practical pest resources may describe them as insects or insect-like animals.
Modern classifications can instead place Collembola as its own class within Hexapoda. In the ITIS taxonomic hierarchy, Collembola sits under the subphylum Hexapoda rather than within the class Insecta.
So, for a general identification article, calling springtails hexapod arthropods avoids confusing them with true insects while remaining taxonomically precise. Their six legs do not mean every springtail belongs to Insecta.
Our broader guide to what a springtail is covers their defining features and biology without turning the identification into a taxonomy lesson.
Different Springtails Have Different Scientific Names
Once you identify a particular springtail species, its scientific name becomes much more specific than Collembola. For example, Willemia christianseni is a species within the order Poduromorpha, while Denisiella sexpinnata belongs to Symphypleona. Both are springtails, but they are not the same species and therefore do not share a binomial scientific name.
That distinction matters when identifying a springtail in your home or garden. Color alone will not give you a species name, and neither will the fact that the animal can jump using a furcula. Those characteristics occur across many members of the group.
For most homeowners, identifying an animal confidently as a springtail is enough. Species-level identification can require much closer examination of physical structures than you can get from simply watching a tiny animal crawl across a bathroom floor or plant pot.
What Name Should You Use for a Springtail?
For ordinary writing, “springtail” is the correct common name. When referring scientifically to springtails collectively, use Collembola.
Do not turn Collembola into a made-up genus-and-species name for an unidentified springtail. If you need the exact scientific name of a specimen, you first need to determine which species it is.
That is especially important when comparing springtails with other tiny household pests. Their size, body shape, antennae, coloration, and movement can help establish that something belongs to the springtail group before attempting a more specific identification.
Other Questions About Springtail Classification
What does Collembola mean?
Collembola is the taxonomic name applied to the group commonly called springtails. It should be capitalized when used as a taxonomic name.
Is Collembola a genus?
No. Collembola sits much higher in the taxonomic hierarchy than a genus. Numerous springtail genera and species fall beneath it.
Do all springtails belong to the same family?
No. Collembola contains multiple families. For example, Isotomidae is one springtail family, while Sminthuridae is another.
Is “springtail” a species name?
No. Springtail is a common name covering many species. Therefore, finding a springtail does not automatically tell you its genus or species.
Should Collembola be italicized?
No. Names above the genus level, including Collembola, are not italicized. Genus and species names such as Folsomides monosetis are italicized.
One thought on “What Is the Scientific Name for Springtails?”