Globular Springtail
Scientific Name: Sminthurinus sp. (or wider Sminthuridae family)
Order & Family: Collembola (Order), Sminthuridae (Family)
Size: 0.5 mm to 3.0 mm
Natural Habitat
Damp environments including soil, leaf litter, moss, rotting wood, and occasionally indoor surfaces like concrete or tiles in high humidity.
Diet & Feeding
Decomposing organic matter, fungi, algae, and bacteria, helping to break down nutrients in the ecosystem.
Behavior Patterns
Active jumpers that use a specialized tail-like appendage called a furcula to catapult themselves into the air when threatened. They are sensitive to moisture and will aggregate in damp spots.
Risks & Benefits
They are harmless to humans, pets, and structures. They benefit the ecosystem by recycling nutrients into the soil; however, large numbers indoors can be a nuisance and signal a moisture problem in the area.
Identified on: 1/10/2026