Snow Fleas (aka Springtails)

 These sturdy, wingless creatures (which are not really fleas) are known as “Springtails” and technically (in Wisconsin) as Hypogastrura nivicola. They are members of a group of acrobatic arthropods called Collembola (kol-LEM-bo-la).

In the winter, when the sun heats the snow, springtails climb through snow layers to congregate on bare spots at the bases of trees or on the snow itself. Most insects cannot survive in snow, but snow fleas actually thrive in it. Whoohoo!

A spring on their abdomens, called a furcula, snaps suddenly when released, propelling the animal into the air. Springing is an effective way to evade predators, such as mites and beetles, but they can't control their trajectory so they look like they’re aimlessly bouncing around. They can crawl too, so its not all chaos.

Ancient Earth Inhabitants

Collembola have distinguished themselves as some of the hardiest creatures that have ever lived on Earth. Over 6,000 species have been described, and their evolutionary success can be attributed to several factors: They eat just about anything, including their own droppings, or nothing at all.

Collembola date back to long before dinosaurs, to the middle Paleozoic era, about 400 million years ago.  During that time, the land began gradually to carry a patina of the first true plants. Their remains were discovered in a glassy rock called chert. The chert had hardened from marshy soils at the edge of a small lake, and with those first plant fossils was found the remains of snow fleas.

Researchers deprived them of food for up to four years in the laboratory and Folsomia candida actually thrived when fed DDT. It was hoped these creatures could be used in decontamination work, but researchers discovered that they were transforming DDT into DDE, which is almost as toxic (Drat!). Collembola can also endure very hot and cold temperatures, with species found in Hawaiian volcanoes and in the Antarctic. 

Do Springtails belong to the massive class of “Insecta”, or should we consider them insects at all? Some scientists think they resemble crustaceans more closely. Perhaps they deserve their own class entirely,,, as many believe.

Life Cycle

Springtails reproduce quickly, going from egg to adult stage in as little as four to six weeks. Mature males leave packets of sperm cells in the soil where they live. These are picked up by females as they lay their eggs, either in packets or singly. Depending on temperature conditions, the eggs hatch within five to ten days.

Nymphs resemble the adults. During the five or six weeks they spend as nymphs, they go through several stages before becoming adults, molting and becoming larger in each. Outdoors, springtails can survive through an entire season, reproducing a number of times. Indoors, they can live up to a year.

Bother or No Bother?

These tiny bugs do not bite or sting and are generally harmless to humans. But they can be unwanted house guests as they are drawn to damp areas such as a basement drains. Their presence indoors can be an indication that moisture, and possibly mold, is present. Remove the moisture, remove the springtails. Springtails do little damage to plants. They will chew roots in the soil and can inhibit plant hardiness, but rarely do major damage.

>> It’s reassuring that in this age of concern for nature, there are creatures so adaptable that almost nothing us humans do bothers them… and they don’t really bother us either. It’s a win-win!