What is a springtail bug?

Springtail bugs are small insects capable of jumping up to 10 centimeters. A springtail has a mass between 0.25 and 6 millimeters. Springtails get their name from their spring-like feature called the furcula.

The furcula is an appendage located on the abdomen of springtails. When springtails are being bothered, the furcula is released, launching them in as little time as 18 milliseconds. Springtails are found usually in moist soil, and they have a diet consisting of mold and fungus. These insects experience water loss through the surfaces of their bodies, and they tend to move to new wet locations if their environments become dry.