Springtails—Worldwide Jumpers

Abstract

Springtails are tiny, six-legged animals that you meet every day, but hardly notice. They can survive in big cities, on ice in Antarctica, in the deepest caves, and in rainforest canopies. Some scientists call them the earliest known and the most numerous insects on Earth. Springtails are famous jumpers—if they were as large as humans, they would easily be jumping over 10-story buildings. This ability allows them to escape from danger. Every day, springtails are very busy, improving soil health and supporting numerous species of spiders, beetles, ants, and other small predators on our planet. They are a key part of soil biodiversity, but we still need to learn a lot about them and many of these beautiful animals are yet to be discovered.