Springtails are wingless insects, thin and elongated, about 1/16 of an inch. They can be found on top of the soil or walking on the edges of the pot, or in the saucer, if the pot has drainage holes. They are generally harmless to plants, as they feed on decaying organic matter and fungi. Some species may damage plants by chewing on the roots and seedling leaves. Even in the case of species that eat plants, with mature plants the damage is rarely sufficient to get you worried. ⠀ People who are in

7K views · 90 reactions | Slo-mo camera reveals how springtails perfect their jump land perfectly every time. | New Scientist | Facebook

30K views · 174 reactions | Meet the globular springtail, a tiny insect that can spin over 60 times its body height. The springtails can jump into a backflip in one-thousandth of a second and can reach a peak rate of 368 rotations per second. According to researchers, springtails don’t fly, bite, or sting. However, they can jump in order to avoid predators. Read the full story in our Science & Technology in today’s newsletter #linkinbio. | 1440 | Facebook

This #forestfriday check out these tiny denizens of the forest: springtails! Also called snow fleas, these little guys aren't actually fleas at all, they're helpful decomposers. They're always around, but are easiest to see when they hop around on top of snow on warm days. Have you spotted any snowfleas lately? #signsofspring #springtails | Northeast Wilderness Trust | Facebook

Step right up to see tiny springtails spin through the air with the greatest of ease! In ponds and streams, they skyrocket out of the reach of hungry insects like water striders by slapping a tail-like appendage against the water. And you won’t believe how they stick the landing. | Deep Look • PBS