Springtails are wingless insects, thin and elongated, about 1/16 of an inch. They can be found on top of the soil or walking on the edges of the pot, or in the saucer, if the pot has drainage holes. They are generally harmless to plants, as they feed on decaying organic matter and fungi. Some species may damage plants by chewing on the roots and seedling leaves. Even in the case of species that eat plants, with mature plants the damage is rarely sufficient to get you worried. ⠀ People who are in

Slo-mo camera reveals how springtails perfect their jump land perfectly every time. | New Scientist

World’s smallest acrobats? Maybe! Meet the globular springtail, one of the fastest backflipping animals on Earth. Using a spring-loaded tail called a furca, they can launch into the air and spin at an astonishing 𝟑𝟔𝟖 𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 to escape danger. Tonight, Adrian Smith, head of our Evolutionary Biology & Behavior Research Lab, joins PBS’ @sci__nc to spotlight these bouncy critters. Don’t miss Unusual Science, premiering Thursday, September 4 at 8:30 PM. And get ready to hop