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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Springtails and allies (Collembola) » Poduromorpha » Hypogastruridae » Hypogastrura
Photo#362653
Unknown - Hypogastrura
Copyright © 2010 Suzie

Unknown - Hypogastrura
Arlington, Snohomish County, Washington, USA
January 5, 2010
Size: .025"-.035" long
These tiny critters are on my front porch and in my garage (both concrete). They cluster in large groups. At first I thought it was tiny piles of dirt. Then I noticed the "pile" was moving. The piles are about 2" plus in diamater depending on how they are moving. They tend to wriggle and can jump. I don't see any sawdust or any other debris around them.
Our house has cedar siding and we live on acrage with wetlands near by.
I am a bit creeped out. I used our shopvac to vacuume up the ones in the garage. New ones were back the next day.
Any help would be appreciated on these. Are they hazardous to human, animal, wood?
How can I get rid of them? Should I get rid of them?

Images of this individual: tag all
Unknown - Hypogastrura Unknown - Hypogastrura
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Contributed by Suzie on 5 January, 2010 - 12:35pm
Last updated 14 January, 2010 - 6:46pm

Moved
Moved from Springtails and allies.
… Charley Eiseman, 14 January, 2010 - 6:46pm login or register to post comments

Hypogastrura sp.
Impossible to say whether this specimen is female or male.

You are withnissing an exceptional happening at your garage. What is going on? Hypogastrura tend to gather in mass aggregations for replication purposes. Think of the gathering as a large sex party ;-)
The aggregation will disappear within a few days/weeks depending on circumstances, when all females got 'pregnant'.
No need to worry: they are completely harmless.
Enjoy the spectacle!
… Frans Janssens, 14 January, 2010 - 5:23am login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… Charley Eiseman, 13 January, 2010 - 8:20pm login or register to post comments

possibly Hypogastrura
Looks like these may be from the genus Hypogastrura. I also recently found this around my yard. You can compare here:

… Corey Husic, 5 January, 2010 - 8:14pm login or register to post comments

 
Snow flea photo.
Thank you for the additional info and the corresponding photo.
A guy at my work also agrees they are snow fleas.
… Suzie, 6 January, 2010 - 5:01pm login or register to post comments

harmless
These are Collembola aka springtails, probably a hypogastrurid commonly known as the "snow flea" because they're active during the winter. They are completely harmless.
… Eric Moody, 5 January, 2010 - 1:42pm login or register to post comments

 
Snow flea
Good to know they are not harmful. Still a little creepy to have them around.
Do you know the life span of these critters?
… Suzie, 6 January, 2010 - 4:59pm login or register to post comments

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