Soil insect ID

LizzyLu

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Dec 20, 2020
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Can anyone ID? Range from 1-4mm in size. Bounces off when touched, like a flea. Curls when disturbed. Friend or foe? Thank you.
 

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Lyn W

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Could that be a springtail?
May be worth googling to see if ID matches.
 

LizzyLu

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Location (City and/or State)
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Google keeps telling me it’s a German cockroach, but it’s not… has no wings and is smaller. I thought maybe spring tail, but it seems big (largest I saw was 4 or 5 mm) and doesn’t match any pics I see online. Thanks for response. Frustrating
 

LizzyLu

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Caught a slightly clearer pic. Lots of legs
 

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LizzyLu

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I was told maybe a scud or lawn shrimp. Still not sure if they are beneficial in my tortoise enclosure
 

Lyn W

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I raise isopods/springtails and have never seen one that looks anything like this. How sure are you? Thanks
Not at all sure - it was the fact he jumps and doesn't have wings made me wonder.
 

Dino87

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Mar 27, 2022
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amphipod ("lawn shrimp"), Talitridae is family. they will not hurt anything. not a springtail, those have only 3 pairs legs
 

LizzyLu

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Location (City and/or State)
Katy, Texas
amphipod ("lawn shrimp"), Talitridae is family. they will not hurt anything. not a springtail, those have only 3 pairs legs
Thanks. Good to know they are not pests. Soil a bit too wet right now from recent downpours- once it dries out some, I bet they vanish.
 

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