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Photo#766242
Tiny dark hopping bugs - Bourletiella hortensis

Tiny dark hopping bugs - Bourletiella hortensis
New Haven County, Connecticut, USA
May 2, 2013
Size: approximately 1 mm
These tiny bugs are currently all over the radish leaves in my garden, and I'm curious to find out what they are. They behave like flea beetles -- they jump quickly out of sight when they're disturbed -- but they don't look like the flea beetles I had in my garden last year. The flea beetles I'm familiar with are black and shiny with a clearly hard shell and hind legs obviously suited for jumping. These bugs, in contrast, are dark brown with softer-looking bodies and no "flea-like" hind legs that I can see. They don't seem to be doing much damage to my plants, but I've never seen them before this spring, and I'd love any suggestions about a potential ID!

Moved

Bourletiella hortensis
May get harmfull to young crops if present in large quantities. It is one of the few Collembola that are considered a pest in agriculture/horticulture (such as Sminthurus viridis) when present in large quantities.

How interesting!
Thanks, everyone!

Harmless
These are mostly or entirely harmless to plants. They graze on films of microorganisms. They may enjoy plants that have already been damaged by other insects, because those tend to grow fungus or leak tasty substances.

Springtail

Moved for expert attention
Moved from ID Request.

Globular springtail of some kind. Frans will tell you more.

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