Springtail
Scientific Name: Collembola
Order & Family: Order Collembola (though sometimes considered a class or subclass, rather than an order within Insecta)
Size: Typically 0.2 to 10 mm in length, with most being less than 6 mm.
Natural Habitat
Damp environments rich in decaying organic matter, such as soil, leaf litter, rotting wood, under bark, in moss, and even snow or water surfaces. They are globally distributed.
Diet & Feeding
Mainly detritivores, feeding on decaying plant material, fungi, bacteria, algae, spores, and sometimes pollen. A few species are omnivores or predators.
Behavior Patterns
Springtails are known for their ability to 'spring' or jump using a furcula, a forked appendage tucked under their abdomen. They are generally harmless to humans, live in large populations, and are active in cold and damp conditions, hence found on snow or ice surfaces (often called 'snow fleas'). They play a critical role in decomposition.
Risks & Benefits
Benefits: They are important decomposers, contributing to nutrient cycling and soil health. They can also serve as food for other small invertebrates. Risks: Generally considered harmless to humans and plants. Very occasionally, certain species might cause minor damage to cultivated plants, but this is rare and usually not severe.
Identified on: 9/22/2025