small bugs on my kitchen counter
May 2, 2010
Dear Bugman, I have noticed very small bugs on my kitchen counter in the last few weeks. They range in color from a greyish shade to orange to brown. I mostly see them in the evening. I caught one under a glass and it seemed to jump from one side of the glass to the other. The exterminator doesn’t believe they are cockroaches.
Thank you for helping me.Pam Lahr
Southern California
Springtail
Hi Pam,
This is a Springtail and we just finished posting a very comprehensive response, also from Southern California, on Springtails. They are benign creatures that can become a nuisance if they are too plentiful. We suspect the unseasonal rains this past winter in Southern California may have contributed to a population explosion of what is already considered the most numerous hexapod on the planet.
Springtail
¶ Posted 03 May 2010 § ‡ ° tiny bugs all over the yards and in the house
May 2, 2010
First there were tiny bugs everywhere in the front yard and yards nearby, now they’re on the floor walls and ceiling of house, mostly kitchen. Spreading like crazy.
richard
San Diego Ca.
Springtail
Hi Richard,
This is a Springtail, and they are believed to be the most numerous hexapod (six legged arthropods including the true insects) on the face of the earth. They are in the class Collembola, and they are primitive creatures that were originally considered in the class Insecta. According to BugGuide, it is estimated that there are over 250,000,000 individual Springtails per acre, so if you couldn’t find any, it might be cause for concern. According to the North Carolina State University website, “They live in a variety of habitats where they feed as scavengers on decaying vegetation and soil fungi. “ The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences website indicates: “They occur in large numbers in moist soil and are found in homes with high humidity, organic debris, or mold. Homeowners sometimes discover these insects in large numbers in swimming pools, potted plants, or in moist soil and mulch.“ Other than being a nuisance because of large numbers, Springtails are benign creatures, but their presence in large numbers in your kitchen may be symptomatic of an underlying mold problem. The University of Florida website also indicates: “Springtails are pests due to their large numbers. They do not bite nor transmit diseases. They can easily climb the sides of houses and are attracted to lights. They can also be brought into homes in the soil of otted plants. Overwatering encourages springtail propogation. Homeowners may first encounter springtails inside the home. The insects invade buildings in times of dry weather or heavy rains. They may also breed indoors with high levels of humidity that occur near leaks and cracks to the exterior. Because of their attraction to lights, they may enter homes lured by light shining through cracks under doors and windows.“ The website offers this advice for control: “Springtails cause no problems inside the house. They are so small that they can’t really be removed with a dustpan and broom. But they can be knocked down by misting the areas where they occur with some dishwashing soap in water (about 1%). Sometimes, springtails are brought into the house on potted plants. Check plants for springtail activity before bringing them into the house. If springtails are active, let the soil dry outside for several days before bringing the plant indoors. Do not overwater plants inside the house. Sometimes, springtails enter the house through small cracks and crevices, under doors, or through windows. Seal cracks and crevices with caulk. Weather strip around doors and windows. This will not only seal access of springtails from the outside but will also keep humidity and moisture out of the house. This all will help control springtails.”
¶ Posted 03 May 2010 § ‡ ° What are these guys?
April 23, 2010
This morning, after a rain, I found these tiny insects congregating in or near puddles in the driveway and walk. They are little specks, gnat size. What are they? Never noticed them before. We are south of Fort Worth, TX.
Evelyn Wolfer
Joshua, TX
Springtails
Dear Evelyn,
Though we cannot make out the individual insects in your photograph, we are certain these are Springtails which sometimes congregate in great numbers after a rain. Springtails are not a cause of concern.
¶ Posted 23 April 2010 § ‡ ° They are everywhere.
April 17, 2010
There are thousands of these in the yard. I find them on the concrete, bricks, and in the soil. The larger ones are about 1.5mm long, by .5mm wide. Fast movers too. I spent 20 minutes waiting for one to stop long enough for me to get a decent picture.
Vince Grgas, San Pedro CA.
Southern Los Angeles area
Springtail
Hi Vince,
This is a Springtail, and we applaud your patience and perseverance in getting this remarkably clear image of a tiny, rapidly moving creature. Springtails are primitive insects, though they were recently reclassified out of the class Insecta and into their own class Collembula which may be viewed on BugGuide. True insects, Springtails, and some other creatures with six legs are collectively called Hexapods, and the Discover Life website indicates: “Springtails have the widest distribution of any hexapod group, occuring throughout the world, including Antarctica. They are probably the most abundant hexapods on Earth, with up to 250,000,000 individuals per square acre. They are found in soil, leaf litter, logs, dung, cave, shorelines, etc. There are about 6000 known species.“ Springtails are important components in the breakdown of organic matter into humus, and they are frequently encountered in compost piles in astronomical numbers.
¶ Posted 19 April 2010 § ‡ ° Massive swarm
April 13, 2010
We were hiking the highest ridge in Friedrich Wilderness Park, just northwest of San Antonio, when we encountered a large swarm of small black insects covering the limestone rocks. This is the video I took of their swarming behavior: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALFe1ul5Qa4
This was in early January, but the weather was unseasonably warm, probably near 70 degrees F. It was late afternoon, and the trails were very muddy from recent rains. The altitude there is about 1200′.
The insects themselves were very small, maybe 1/8″ long. I couldn’t get any idea of their appearance until I zoomed in on the digital pictures I took–it should be Image 2 here.
I sent this same information to a local entomologist, but never got a reply 
John
Northwest of San Antonio, TX
Springtails
Hi John,
You had an encounter with Springtails, most likely in the genus Hypogastrura, which includes Snow Fleas and which can be viewed on BugGuide. Snow Fleas can be found on sunny days during the winter, often congregating on the surface of the snow. Entomologists are often quite busy with their jobs, but amateurs like us do this as a labor of love.
Springtails
¶ Posted 13 April 2010 § ‡ ° Tiny aquatic insects
March 15, 2010
About a three weeks ago I noticed, what can only be described as, a “raft” in tiny insects floating in a bucket of rainwater at my front door. They are about 3-4mm in length and, when disturbed, dart around in the water before coming back togather again.
Ann Sutherland
Longhope, Island of Hoy, Orkney, Scotland, UK
Springtails
Hi Ann,
These are Springtails, primitive insects that are believed to be the most common arthropod on the planet. Springtails are highly diverse in their habitats depending upon the species. Some species are found on the surface of the snow and are known as Snow Fleas, and others are found on the surface of the ocean. Springtails similar to the ones you found are sometimes found in great numbers on the surface of swimming pools. Others are found in damp soil and in moldy conditions indoors.
Ed. Note: February 28, 2010
Selecting the Bug of the Month each month is always a careful decision, and we like to try to select a recent submission that is timely in its appearance. Insects that appear while there is still snow on the ground are unusual, but not at all rare. This Snowfly is a creature that may be encountered by a sizable portion of our readership in the coming month.
Snow bugs?
February 24, 2010
Sorry to bug you all again (pun not intended, I assure you!)
But today at the river getting some photos of the snow, I saw these black things scurrying across the top. On a closer look, I noticed they were some kind of flying insect. Some were hitching a ride on another (or mating, not sure). I was careful not to step on any of them. (I hope I didn’t!). I’m sorry the photos aren’t great, but I don’t have the right lens for that. To be honest, they looked like miniature Dobson flies! Some were about almost an inch long. They were only at the river. What are these little guys?
Thanks a bunch, Terra
River, Massachusetts
Snowfly
Hi Terra,
Despite the snow, many insects are active during the winter months. In the winter we frequently get images like yours of Snowflies, a group of Winter Stoneflies in the family Capniidae. Though we do not refrain from posting photos that our readership takes during the summer months when the short cold days of winter allow people kept people indoors to work on the computer more, we much prefer timely postings like yours. According to BugGuide Snowfly: “nymphs live beneath rocks and gravel on the bottom of streams and rivers adults are often seen on snow, or resting on concrete bridges over streams” which explains your sighting near the water in the snow. We wish you had provided an image of a mating pair for our Bug Love section. One of your images contains a tiny Springtail in the genus Hypogastrura, and the species that are found on the snow are known as Snow Fleas. You may read more about these in our archive as well as on BugGuide.
Snowfly and Snow Flea
Wow! Thank you so much for the fast reply! I’m quite interested to hear more about these guys- they’re quite cute!
I’ll have to have a read on them, thank you!
(And sorry for the quality of the images- it was dark out!)
Ed. Note: After posting this letter and photos, a second photo of a Snowfly resulted in a request from the Xerces Society to use the image in an Endangered Species Act petition . Read about that here.
Little spider looking guys that float on water
February 8, 2010
I have found these guys floating on some standing water around my house. They seem to be mostly on the water, but also around it a little bit. They are quite small, as the one by my finger is one of the biggest ones. They seem to have a slight reddish or yellowish color to them. And they can scoot along the water QUITE speedily. They look like spiders and don’t appear to have wings. Not sure what they are! Can you help please!
-iLan
seattle, wa
Globular Springtails
Hi iLan,
These are Globular Springtails in the class Collembola and the order Symphypleona. BugGuide has a wonderful series of photos of a species that was identified as Dicyrtomina ornata that is very detailed. Alas, we are unable to identify which species of Globular Springtail you have discovered.
Globular Springtail
¶ Posted 09 February 2010 § ‡ ° 
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