Description
Springtails live in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. They have no wings (they are primitively wingless). Their elongated bodies come in various colours, are a few millimetres long and usually have no eyes, 4–6-segmented antennae and a 6-segmented abdomen. Their mouthparts are either chewing or piercing-sucking. Jumping species have a so-called springing fork and a catch on the abdomen.
They are abundant in all kinds of damp environments – in all soil types, forest litter, moss and even on snow. They feed on dead organic matter or on plants, helping soil micro-organisms to develop. Many species are pests of greenhouse crops.
They appear frequently but rarely cause real damage. These small wingless insects, white to bluish-black depending on the species, settle in the potting mix or on the outside of pots standing inside decorative containers.
Control
They feed mainly on rotting plant material.
You can get rid of them by watering less, especially in winter, and by repotting the plant into fresh potting mix.