Epistylis

Capturing Campanella umbellaria requires a shift from traditional trail cameras to macro or microscopic imaging. To see these 'backyard' residents, you will need a digital microscope or a smartphone with a high-powered macro lens attachment (at least 15x magnification). The best way to find them is to collect a small sample of pond water along with a piece of submerged vegetation or a decaying leaf, as the colonies cling to these surfaces.

Once you have your sample, place it in a shallow glass dish or on a well-slide. Lighting is the most critical factor for success. Use 'darkfield illumination'—lighting the sample from the side or from below at an angle—to make the translucent bodies of the ciliates glow against a dark background. This highlights the delicate cilia and the branching structure of the stalks, making it much easier for AI-powered identification tools to recognize the species.

For the best video footage, look for the movement of the 'ciliary wreath' at the top of the bells. Set your camera to a high frame rate if possible, as the beating of the cilia is very rapid. If you are trying to capture them in a backyard pond without removing them, use an underwater macro camera positioned near submerged rocks or plant stems in still water. Since they are active day and night, time of day is less important than water clarity and light quality.