Snow Fleas

Description:

Snow Fleas or Springtails are small black insects with antennae and an elongated oval shape. They are about 1/16 of an inch.They are not actually fleas, they don't have wings. Snow Fleas gather in large numbers and look like jumping flecks of black pepper.

Habitat:

Springtails/Snow Fleas are beneficial to the ecosystem. They live in the soil and leaf litter where they eat microscopic fungi, algae and decaying organic matter which turns into fertile soil. Spotted near Tamarac Lake.

Notes:

They are active all year round, but can often be seen in late winter or early spring on the surface of melting snow.