Fact Sheet No. 5.602 Series|Home and Garden by W. Cranshaw* Springtails are minute that Life History and Habits Quick Facts may occur in tremendous numbers in , Habits of the springtails vary. The great but they are rarely observed. Their activities • Springtails cannot bite and majority develop in , feeding on fungi, most commonly come to the attention of they are harmless to humans algae, decaying plant matter and . humans only when large numbers migrate and larger . Some are predators of small soil animals, and into homes. Another unusual event involving a few may damage tender plants. However, springtails are their occurrence as ‘ fleas’ • During hot, dry periods none of them can bite and they are harmless found on the surface of thawing snow. in summer springtails to humans and larger animals. sometimes migrate from life cycles are completed rapidly lawns and outdoor areas to Appearance when temperatures allow and springtails may homes. Springtails are tiny, pinhead-sized produce periodic population explosions. In arthropods. The most commonly seen species moist soils with high amounts of organic • Springtails tend to be fairly have a somewhat elongated body, but others matter, tremendous numbers may be present resistant to most insecticides have a rounded globose body form. Springtail – thousands per square foot. Overcrowding and migrations can involve colors vary but most are gray or purplish. and soil drying may induce migrations. continuous movement of new Others, are pale colored and most, under Sometimes springtails may be seen on the individuals. However, some microscopic observation, are patterned. The surface of puddled water, often in such yard and garden insecticides numbers as to form a large raft of their coloration of most Colorado springtails is do make claims of springtail floating bodies. produced by protective scales that cover control on the label. the body. Springtails are wingless and crawl slowly, Springtails in Homes but have a unique means of locomotion – During hot, dry periods in summer the “spring .” This involves a fork-like springtails sometimes migrate from lawns structure (furcula) attached to the hind end and outdoor areas to homes. This occurs that can fold under the body. Upon release, when the soils and leaf litter where they the furcula pushes the springtail and allows develop dry out, forcing springtails to it to jump short distances. Because of this seek sources of moisture, which shaded, jumping habit and their small size, springtails more humid buildings provide. Household are sometimes described as “jumping dirt.” migrations of springtails in Colorado Springtails possess six legs, as do . typically occur when a period of moist Formerly, they were typically classified as an weather in spring – favorable to developing of insects. However, they have many high populations – is followed by sustained features that are not found in insects and hot and drying during early to mid summer. are now usually classified as Entognathous If springtails can find their way into a Hexapods, a separate sister group from the building they will usually be found most insects (subclass Insecta). All springtails abundantly in areas where water sources are classified as being within the order are present, such as bathrooms or kitchen Collembola, with several different springtail sinks. Outdoors, a faucet or pooled water in a families present in Colorado. garden is attractive. Springtails within a home will not bite, © Colorado State University feed on household items, nor cause any Extension. 5/07. Revised 12/12. significant damage. They can be a temporary nuisance, but migrations usually last less than www.ext.colostate.edu

*W. Cranshaw Colorado State University Extension a week and springtails trapped indoors soon entomology specialist, and professor, bioagricultural die out. sciences and management. 12/2012 If migrations occur try to eliminate The ‘Snow Flea’ all obvious moisture sources around the Phenomenon building. Alternatively, providing moisture Perhaps the most bizarre springtail at some point distant from the building behavior that people may observe is when may help divert migrations. they are seen massing on the surface of The effectiveness of insecticides thawing snow. This is often described as the to manage springtail migrations is “snow flea” phenomenon, since the minute questionable. Springtails tend to be springtails jump as might a tiny flea. fairly resistant to most insecticides and The “snow fleas” are springtails migrations can involve continuous normally found feeding in leaf litter and Figure 1: Springtails under a board. movement of new individuals. However, soil that work their way to the surface some yard and garden insecticides do make of the snow. They crawl up the trunks claims of springtail control on the label. of trees, plant stems and side of rocks where an open channel allows their Springtails and migration. Tremendous numbers can Houseplants sometimes be found on the surface, which superficially looks like dirt. Footprints Springtails occasionally develop in the or other depressions may collect very soil of houseplants. Most often they are dense populations. noticed just after watering, when they may There are still questions regarding this move temporarily from the saturated soil to behavior. It is suggested that migrations the surface. are triggered because of overcrowding and Figure 2: Springtails. In houseplant soils springtails are lack of food. Springtails may feed on small functioning as they do outdoors – particles of debris that have collected on scavenging dead plant matter and feeding the snow surface. Many of the springtails on soil . They do very little, may later work their way back down to the if any, damage to the houseplant. Problems soil through the same type of channels, but can be limited if the soil is allowed to dry many are trapped and will ultimately die. down a bit more between waterings, which discourages high soil moisture that allows them to survive and reproduce well.

Figure 3: Globose springtail.

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