Glory Farm: Snow Fleas

It's getting a bit later in the flavor to see snow fleas, but I thought I'd post about them anyways. I first discovered snow fleas about 15 days ago when I saw little black specks jumping on top of the snow. They aren't really fleas, but they are insects. I looked them up and plant some information:

Snow Fleas Courtesy of
Kenneth ChristiansenWhat, snow has fleas? Where?

Most of us have never noticed snow fleas, unique little creatures that are very very common, and powerful under our noses. Here's how to find them.
On a warm, sunny winter day, take a search at the foundation of a corner where the blow may have melted down to discover some leaves, or where the blow is shallow or hollowed out but a bit. There you'll find a sprinkle of what looks like "pepper" or "ashes" on the rise of the snow. Each speck you see is a snow flea. Once you get them, watch closely and see what they're up to.
Snow fleas are actually tiny insects which fall out on warm, sunny days to eat decayed plant material or sap oozing from the tree. They hop around acting like fleas and that's where they get their name, snow "fleas." They're not fleas though, but really an arthropod called Collembola (kol-LEM-bo-la) or commonly called springtails which measure about 1/8 inch (2mm) long. They have a very unique catapult system to get around. Two "tails" on their rear end are tucked up underneath their belly, held in office by tiny "hooks." When the springtail wants to move, they just release the spring-loaded "tails," called furcula, which hit the blow and place them flying into the air. Since snow fleas can't conrol their flight or direction, they frequently bring in the same spot or only a few inches away.
These are not just winter critters. You can get them any sentence of class in the woods life in the leaf litter stuck to the bottom of leaves or on the rise of the soil, chomping on bits of rotting vegetation. They also go on the rise of ponds. You'd get to appear very close to see them here because they go in good and are so tiny.
Next time you're acting in the snow outside, or simply going for a stroll, take a spirit and see if you can spy these incredible spring-loaded springtails, commonly called "snow fleas."

This information comes from the Wisconsin DNR website-
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/eek/critter/insect/snowflea.htm

It might be too deep to see them this spring, but retain a scout for them early next spring.