Snow Fleas

[tillicant]

Sunday went out hiking, just following deer trails, area was mulched with a fecon or similar prior to the last snow. About an hour in my wife noticed all the pepper on top of the snow, then she stopped and looked close. The pepper was hopping. I made the mistake of telling her they were fleas.
Turns out it actually means you have a good ecosystem. Not actually fleas, Im sure someone on here knows more about these.

 

[FI460]

They're a type of springtail. Many species out there.

 

[MarvB]

What FI460 said , springtails are actually a pretty interesting little critter! Not even a “real” insect but a hexapod (I think?). Kind of a pain if you get them indoors but if you dry your place out they’ll typically die out.

Snow fleas though, gonna have to use that one with the grandkids lol

 

[Phaseolus]

Collembola, Springtails, are insects, one of the more primitive orders.

 

[FI460]

Collembola, Springtails, are insects, one of the more primitive orders.

Depending on who you ask. Some folks like to argue over external vs internal mouthparts allowing them to be part of the club.

 

[Phaseolus]

Depending on who you ask. Some folks like to argue over external vs internal mouthparts allowing them to be part of the club.

You mean some of us Entomologists who are taxonomists? They love to change things.

 

[FI460]

You mean some of us Entomologists who are taxonomists? They love to change things.

Well of course. That new grad student needs a project. What would be the point of taxonomy without contention?

 

[D4570]

We have them too but mostly in the higher mountains.
When you disturb the snow like walking in it go back and look.
They come out and line the track it must be the light.

 

[tillicant]

We have them too but mostly in the higher mountains.
When you disturb the snow like walking in it go back and look.
They come out and line the track it must be the light.

Did that Wednesday on our way out from a hike, glad I don't eat snow

 

[Phaseolus]

Did that Wednesday on our way out from a hike, glad I don't eat snow

You eat insects every day, you just didn’t know it until now.