CLOSED: Do I have springtails?

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juju3715 Durham, NC May 23, 2008

I'm sorry that I don't have a picture, but I would appreciate any help based on my description. I live in Durham, NC, so it has been pretty warm here for the past few months. I've been seeing these little bugs that resemble fleas...kind of brown or brownish black, some of them are gray. They are all over my brick front stoop and all along the brick window ledges. I see them mainly at night, although there are a few during the day. They appear to have antennae and can crawl very quickly. They are shaped like the little seeds that are in rye bread and are about that same size. I have looked all over the internet and haven't really seen anything that looks exactly like them. Based on the description, they almost sound like springtails, except that I have never seen them jump. Is it possible that I just haven't seen them jump? The only time I've ever seen them do something resembling jumping is when I spray them...which I assumed was just a result of the force of the aerosol spray. I read that springtails thrive in mulch which I do have all along the front of my house. I have an older house where the bottom is brick and the top is aluminum siding. I notice that they crawl under the space where the brick meets the siding. I thought they were bad enough outside, but lately I have seen a few inside along floorboards near vents, and near windows. I would like to nip the problem now before I start seeing more inside. If they're not springtails, does anyone know what else they might be?

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suunto Sinks Grove, WV May 24, 2008

t is possible that they could be springtails, as there are some that cannot jump. See http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/sciences/zoology/Insects/InsectDrawings/collembola.gif for a drawing of some of the various body types of springtails; the ones depicted in the upper center are typical of the non-jumping variety; a photo of of one such species can be seen at http://www.collembase.org/images/Folsomia_small.jpg
If no one else on this thread can offer a plausible alternative, I suggest that you collect some specimens (preferably in rubbing alcohol), and take them to the Durham County office of North Carolina's Cooperative Extension service (see http://durham.ces.ncsu.edu/ for contact information). Someone there should be able either to assist in identification, or to forward them to the appropriate university office.

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juju3715 Durham, NC May 24, 2008

Thank you so much for the information! I am almost certain they are springtails. I really appreciate your response!!

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