Subject: Small bugs all over the place
Location: Rockland County, New York
December 8, 2012 2:52 pm
Any idea what these small bugs are? There are hundreds of them all over my deck, sidewalk, and nearby trees. Some kind of aphids? Are they harmful?
Signature: Karla
Dear Karla,
You have Globular Springtails in the order Symphypleona, and though they may be a nuisance when they are plentiful, they are quite benign. Since they help break down organic matter, they should be considered beneficial. See BugGuide for additional information. There is more information on the Class Collembola page on BugGuide.