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The
Diversity of The World of Life
True
Insects & Other Six-Legged Arthropods (Hexapoda)
Springtails etc.
(Parainsecta)
Representatives
Springtails
Biology
APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF KNOWN SPECIES WORLDWIDE
2,000
DESCRIPTION
Springtails
are typically less than 1/4" long, slender to plump, and grayish or
purple-and-yellow in color. The antennae are visible.
The mouthparts are chewing.
There are no wings. There is
a tube-like growth on the underside of the front of the abdomen and
a forklike growth (used in jumping) at the tail-end of the
abdomen.
METAMORPHOSIS
The nymphs look like small adults.
HABITATS
Springtails are found along seashores, on top of ponds, in soil, in debris, under
bark, in rotting wood, in fungi (molds), and on plants. Big groups are often found (often jumping) in compost, new
lawns covered with manure, flower pots, greenhouses, mushroom houses, or
other damp places or on top of standing water.
FOODS
Although most springtails feed on such organic matter as
bacteria, fungi, algae, arthropod feces, or pollen, some springtails feed
on tender plant parts.
DAMAGES/BENEFITS
Although they may seriously injure the tender leaves of
garden crops or eat seeds, roots, or mushrooms; although they can spread
some fungal diseases of plants; and although they can simply be a nuisance
indoors, springtails usually do not cause serious damage.
Their
decomposition of waste matter forms soil-building "humus".
True
Insects & Other Six-Legged Arthropods (Hexapoda)
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