Snow has fleas? Most of us don’t notice snow fleas. These little creatures are really very common and right under our feet. How do you find snow fleas? On a warm, sunny, winter day, take a look at the base of a tree where the snow is melted down to expose leaves, or where the snow is shallow. You will find sprinkled on the ground what looks like “pepper” on the snow. Those tiny black spots are snow fleas. Once you have spotted them, look closely to see what they’re up to.
Snow fleas are tiny insects that come out on warm sunny days to eat plant decay and sap from trees. These insects hop around on the surface of the snow acting like fleas, and that’s how they get their name. Snow fleas are not actually fleas at all, they are an arthropod called Collembola or springtails to the layperson. Springtails are about a 1/8 of an inch in length and have a specialized catapult system to move them from spot to spot. These insects have two “tails” on their rear ends that are tucked up under their belly. The “tails” are held in place with tiny hooks. When the snow flea want to move, they just release the “tails” which strike the snow surface and send them flying into the air. Snow fleas have no control of their flight or direction, so unfortunately for them they frequently land in the same spot or just a few inches away.
Snow fleas are not just winter critters, these insects can be found at all times of the year in the forest. They live in the leaf litter stuck to leaves or on the soil, munching on decaying vegetation. These little guys also live on the surface of ponds, but you would need to look closely because they blend in well and are very small.
The next time you’re out hiking in the snow covered woods, or just walking around your back yard, look and see if you can spot these spring – loaded springtails, commonly called “Snow Fleas.”
Joe Lehman
Wildlife Specialist
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