Collembola vs Common Chickweed

Folsomides angularis compared with Cerastium fontanum

Key Differences

• Collembola is Not Evaluated while Common Chickweed is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Collembola	Common Chickweed
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class	Collembola (springtail)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order	Entomobryomorpha (Entomobryomorpha)	Caryophyllales (Caryophyllales)
Family	Isotomidae	Caryophyllaceae
Genus	Folsomides	Cerastium
Species	Folsomides angularis	Cerastium fontanum

Conservation Status

Collembola

NE — Not Evaluated

Common Chickweed

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Collembola	Common Chickweed
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Collembola

Habitat

Native to Europe and North America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and United States.

Common Chickweed

Habitat

Inhabits tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests and tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests within the Neotropic biogeographic realm.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (South Africa), Europe (5 countries), North America (Canada, Jamaica, United States), and South America (4 countries).

Collembola

<em>Folsomides angularis</em>, commonly referred to as Collembola in reference to its broader taxonomic order, is a springtail species belonging to the genus <em>Folsomides</em>. Springtails are among the most abundant hexapods in terrestrial ecosystems, playing important roles in soil decomposition and nutrient cycling. This species has been documented in Europe, with records from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, as well as North America, where it is known from the United States. It typically inhabits soil, leaf litter, and decaying organic matter, and is capable of tolerating a range of environmental conditions. Springtails of this group are detritivores, feeding on decomposing plant material, fungal hyphae, and microorganisms, though specific dietary data for <em>Folsomides angularis</em> are not detailed in current records. The species has not been formally assessed for conservation status. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature. Its small body size and cryptic lifestyle make detailed ecological study challenging.

Common Chickweed

<em>Cerastium fontanum</em>, commonly known as common chickweed, is a plant species found across Africa, Europe, and the Americas. It typically thrives in tropical and subtropical forest environments, as well as in disturbed habitats such as roadsides, gardens, lawns, and cultivated fields across a broad climatic range. The species is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, reflecting its cosmopolitan distribution and stable population status. Common chickweed belongs to the genus <em>Cerastium</em> within the family Caryophyllaceae. It is a low-growing, mat-forming herbaceous plant that typically produces small white flowers with deeply notched petals and is often found in moist, disturbed soils where it can establish rapidly. The species is a common garden weed in many parts of the world and is known for its ability to colonize a wide variety of substrates and environmental conditions. Biological traits such as average lifespan, plant height, and mass of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature. Its widespread occurrence and weedy habit contribute to its globally secure conservation status.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 4 countries:

🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇺🇸 United States