What are springtails?
 Springtails, or collembola, are primative hexapods (six-legged arthropods) that are closely related to insects. These small critters (1-6 mm, usually less than 3 mm) live in soil, leaf litter, and other damp organic material. Springtails can be extremely abundant in some damp, highly organic soils. They generally cause no harm to garden plants but may be so abundant that they become a nuisance. Very occasionally they damage tender, young garden plants by feeding on roots.
Springtails may be nearly colorless to white or gray and even yellow, orange, red, or green. The name "springtail" comes from an ability to spring forward by releasing an appendage that is normally tucked under the abdomen (right, lower drawing). All stages except the egg are similar in shape.
When springtails are abundant the cause is usually high soil moisture and/or highly organic soils. Usually the best control is to reduce soil moisture by watering less. A normal wet/dry cycle is often enough to reduce springtail numbers in a garden. You might also cut back on the amount of compost added each year. If an insecticide is needed, however, insecticidal soap or the new plant-based, botanical pesticides are good choices (see Related Articles below). The name "collembola" refers to the scientific name for the scientific Order of these arthropods.
|
 |
Two views of a springtail; photograph (upper, head and antennae to the right) and line drawing (below, head to the left). Note the long "springtail" at rear end (lower, right) which may be folded under as in the photo above.
|
|
|
|
