Springtail
Scientific Name: Orchesella cincta (representative of Order Entomobryomorpha)
Order & Family: Order: Collembola, Family: Entomobryidae
Size: 1 to 6 mm typically, with most species under 3 mm
Natural Habitat
Damp environments, including leaf litter, soil, rotting wood, and occasionally indoor areas with moisture or humidity (like bathrooms and kitchen sinks)
Diet & Feeding
Primarily detritus, fungi, algae, and decaying plant material
Behavior Patterns
Possess a specialized tail-like appendage called a furcula that allows them to jump several inches when threatened. They are nocturnal and highly dependent on high humidity levels to survive.
Risks & Benefits
Generally harmless to humans and pets; they do not bite or sting. Benefit ecosystems significantly by assisting in the decomposition of organic matter and cycling nutrients into the soil.
Identified on: 6/3/2026