Springtails
Description
Springtails are white, gray or light colored measuring about 1/16" long. They have a distinctive head with long antennae. The rest of the body has a somewhat "humpbacked" appearance. Springtails get their name from a forked appendage attached to the end of the abdomen, which allows them to spring forward like a flea. They have no wings.
Habitat
Springtails are always found in very moist places. Outdoors, their populations can reach up to 50,000 per cubic foot of soil. They are typically found in mulch, firewood, landscape timbers and potted plants. They penetrate structures when their environment becomes too dry and they need a moisture source. They are attracted to light. They feed on algae, fungi, decaying vegetable matter, dead animal matter and sometimes living plants.
Hazards
* A nuisance pest.
* Can cause itching on human skin.
