Springtail

Natural Habitat

Damp environments, soil, leaf litter, decaying wood, and moisture-prone areas around buildings/windowsills

Diet & Feeding

Detritivores feeding on fungal hyphae, spores, bacteria, algae, and decaying organic matter

Behavior Patterns

Notable for a specialized tail-like appendage called a furcula used to catapult themselves through the air when threatened; they often appear in large numbers during high-moisture periods

Risks & Benefits

They do not bite or sting humans and are harmless to structural wood; they are beneficial decomposers that help cycle nutrients into the soil, though they can be considered a nuisance pest when they enter homes in large numbers due to moisture issues

Identified on: 1/12/2026