I caught springtails with a simple trap: how-to instructions and results

I put together a springtail trap and caught a decent number of springtails in just a couple of days.
More details in this blog post:
hermitgarden.c...
My previous video that I reference:
• How to Catch Springtai...

[@RandomActsOfRandom]

If you have a fire pit outside with a dirt bottom, dig through the charcoal. Teeming with springtails. And you can use the charcoal for your culture. Very cost effective.

[@brettsoanes2505]

Thanks for the tip I'll head to the fire pit tomorrow

[@bigballinhustla]

Headed out to look in my fire pit now

[@bonna4829]

@@bigballinhustla did you find many?

[@bigballinhustla]

@@bonna4829 I did find a few, but I had just as much luck flipping rocks. They're everywhere really.

[@JayeVee]

Cool tip bro, I was using the potato method to catch them isopods but wit no luck but a lot of luck on them springtails

[@mrdavman13]

They’re attracted to light, if you have a potted plant and turn it, you’ll see them run towards the window and hang out on the side of the pot nearest the window

[@Toru101]

Finally! I found a video on how to get springtails.... Thank you so much!

[@asp1820]

Hey the big ones are indeed springtails if you were curious

[@themantisgarden]

I see we catch them very differently :D

[@bonna4829]

how do you catch them? i want to try a few methods to see which works better :)

[@naturesADHD]

cool! i made a similar video on catchinig all other bugs except springtales that are good for bioactive :) cheers from mexico! ill subscribe to your channel!

[@abbysapples1225]

Police in the background? I thought that was the Springfield setting off an alarm that they were going to get trapped. Obviously I was joking. Awesome video thanks for the information. 🙂👍

[@mspamela2008]

Can i use this inside to catch them that are running around my kitchen sink?

[@hermitgarden9150]

yes, the trap should still attract the springtails, but it will not eliminate them from your sink if that's what you were hoping to do

[@bills1779]

We have them that come up thru the kitchen sink drains. How is that even possible? You'd think water would flush them away .... buy, they still are a nuisance. I've tried flushing vinegar down the drains and that helped for about a day. We do have a dishwasher next to the kitchen sink, I wonder if that my be the issue some how. But every morning ... there's 2 or 3 in the sinks

[@Isulduur]

@@bills1779 this is exactly my problem. Did you ever solve it?

[@Fishfan347]

I just made this trap. I will update in a few days time if I catch any!

[@huntresskira]

update?

[@UncommonGinger]

update?

[@alejandratovar428]

Update?

[@alejandrapacsay8688]

Other than mushrooms what can i use?

[@laramilhazes]

Hi! So if you have an infestation, what would you think would be a strong enemy for springtails.?

[@hermitgarden9150]

if you want to get rid of springtails around your plants, first you can try to reduce how much you are watering your plants to reduce moisture. plants will most likely tolerate not having water for a few weeks or more depending on the plant. vinegar is another option if that isn't working

[@accountantintraining4752]

I don't have plant life in my home but they live here.

[@jamiekeenan6121]

@@accountantintraining4752 if you dont have plants then its because your house or the specific area of your house is high in moisture do if you get rid of the moisture then you can get rid of the springtails

[@scorchinggoat9589]

@@accountantintraining4752 they probably feed on mould in your house near sinks and places high in moisture

[@Troystone]

What kind of fern do you have in your terrarium?

[@matthoffman6962]

You don’t need all that. Just come to my house I have about 1000 in my unfinished basement lol

[@ansh00806]

I don't have mushroom can i use something else

[@Zaku186]

Use charcoal instead of paper towl and some water to make sure it doesn't dry out. And yes you can use rice or oats and if you can get some baking yeast to put in there that helps attract them. Make sure the trap is covered with leaves or something to keep the sun off to. Needs be be an ideal environment for springtails and leave it out a few days to get enough to make it worth it.

[@ansh00806]

Can i collect them in summer season?

[@Zaku186]

Thats the best time to collect them. Also its best to dig a hole and put the trap down in it so the top is level with the ground. Instead of laying it on its side like he did. You want a little water in the bottom of the trap exactly like how you setup a springtail culture. If the trap drys out you would be lucky to get one springtail. If tue charcoal stays wet it and the rice will mold and attract a lot of springtails.and dont forget to cover it with leaves or something. The springtails wont come if the sun is hammering down on the trap. The whole concept of the trap is creating an ideal environment for them so a lot come to one place.

[@ansh00806]

Tnx for your advice

[@QueenieKoopa]

Aren't these the things that are always hanging out on fungi??

[@hermitgarden9150]

yes, they do like to eat fungus and should look like very tiny white/grey insects. That's why they should be attracted to the mushroom in the trap

[@BenLe42]

Hey @OP So did they repopulate your terrarium? Was it enough?

[@hermitgarden9150]

Just checked my terrarium and unfortunately did not see any springtails. I guess that wasn't enough to sustain the population. In hindsight, it probably would have been better to put them in a springtail culture to give them the best chances of repopulating.

[@DarkKnight3-ht6yx]

Anything on black jumping bugs that literally make me terrified of my room and make me wanna hang myself?

[@nonamehi]

Probably fleas

[@user-dh1dr5mw1n]

what the hell with the yellow trap brah.

[@rockone1966]

I would like to know how to get rid of them they are constantly coming up thru the bathtub drain. I use simple green and it kills them but they keep coming back alot!!!! 🪳🪳🪳

[@mathewbradley4143]

Hello! I have springtails in my terrariums and I am still seeing some mold on the moss I have in there. would a low concentration of hydrogen peroxide kill the springtails? I want to kill the mold, but not the springtails (except the springtails aren't really doing their job though) If it would kill them, any idea how I can get the springtails to eat the mold that's in there?! Thanks in advance.

[@hermitgarden9150]

I think a bit of hydrogen peroxide won't kill them, especially if it's not being applied throughout your whole terrarium. You could dip a Q-tip or a paper towel in hydrogen peroxide and dab it on the moss to minimize the amount getting into soil. Otherwise, maybe you can try reducing the water in the terrarium by letting it air out for a few hours.

[@mathewbradley4143]

@@hermitgarden9150 I'm going to give it a try with spraying a small, diluted amount on it and see what happens.

[@heavens.sorrow]

@@mathewbradley4143 How'd it go?

[@mathewbradley4143]

@@heavens.sorrow I don't remember exactly which terrarium this was referencing, but my first one I ever made had a bad mold problem. I ended up swapping all the moss out because the peroxide wasn't enough. Some new mold popped up and I caught it early enough that the peroxide was able to kill it. I don't remember if I had to refill the terrarium with more springtails, but it's doing great now!

[@heavens.sorrow]

@@mathewbradley4143 Thanks! Glad to hear that it at least had a happy ending.

[@danirechia]

will it work with anything other than mushroom? that's a great video :)

[@hermitgarden9150]

I think you can also try attracting them with anything that grows mold (also another fungus) like grains of rice or maybe some moist bread. I've never tried it though.

[@Zaku186]

Charcoal instead of the paper towl he used. And rice and baking yeast like for bread. You also should cover the trap with leaves and make sure it doesn't dry out. It needs to be outside for at least a few days for it to be enough to be worth doing.

[@josiahvanmoer3357]

Love the video, probably didn’t need to be 8 min long though

[@bigballinhustla]

Who are you to dictate how long his video should or shouldn't be? Be thankful he put it up instead of being that "person" who seemingly cries about anything

[@akmotivation1718]

👌👌👌👌👌

[@Xsksnssjccxghb]

How to arrest springtails 💀

[@powerslave7876]

Thank you god

[@TeamRocket301]

Nani

[@MikeMcRoberts]

You pronounce terrarium in a really weird way

[@dragonqueen4799]

u dont have a fb or anyway to contact u

[@hermitgarden9150]

youtube comments are the best way to reach me. if you have to use email, try [e-mail], but I rarely check it

[@dragonqueen4799]

@@hermitgarden9150 thank u for replying i found these bugs in with my superworms and you seem to know a lot about springtails and i don’t know if that’s what they are would u mind if i sent you a video maybe you can give me your advice on what u think possibly ?

[@hermitgarden9150]

@@dragonqueen4799 I think you might get better answers by posting the video/photos on this bug identification subreddit: www.reddit.com/r/whatsthisbug/. There are a good number of active people on there and can give you multiple opinions from people who look at bugs more than I do. But if you want my opinion, I can take a look at the video and tell you what I think.