Springtails
As winter arrives the world around us is changing, what on our lakes, rivers and streams is different. What species thrive in cold, harsh environments?
Black specks on snow, especially around the base of shoreline trees and brush, are insects called snow fleas. Look closely and you will see them crawling and jumping around. Snow fleas are not really fleas but members of a group of insects called springtails.
They are most apparent when the snow pack starts to thaw in late winter, when they congregate in large numbers on sunny days to feed on pollen, microscopic algae, and fungi on the surface of the snow.
December 9, 2005 1:47 AM | Category: Insects