Springtail
Scientific Name: Collembola (class/subclass)
Order & Family: Order: Poduromorpha, Entomobryomorpha, or Symphypleona; Family: Various (e.g., Entomobryidae)
Size: 1 to 6 mm in length
Natural Habitat
Damp environments including soil, leaf litter, decaying wood, and sometimes bathrooms or kitchens with moisture issues.
Diet & Feeding
Primarily detritivores, feeding on decaying organic matter, fungi, algae, and bacteria.
Behavior Patterns
Known for their 'furcula', a tail-like appendage used to spring or catapult themselves through the air when threatened. They are sensitive to desiccation and aggregate in moist areas.
Risks & Benefits
Harmless to humans, pets, and structures. They are beneficial to the ecosystem as decomposers that help cycle nutrients back into the soil, though they can be considered a nuisance in large numbers indoors.
Identified on: 1/4/2026