What are Snow Fleas? Good News!
Image via Flickr by Robbie1
Have you noticed snow fleas in Michigan? The winter season may be harsh and unfavorable, but it has its good sides, which include snow fleas. The drop in temperature slows down or halts many natural processes, including insect activities. This may be an advantage in getting rid of bugs such as fleas, flies, ticks, and stink bugs.
However, the cold weather does not stop some critters such as snow fleas from functioning. They emerge during winter and inhabit snow banks, snow piles, tree trunks, and damp matter around your yard.
We know what you’re thinking, but not to worry because we’ve got good news. Snow fleas are not a threat to humans, animals, or property. They are totally harmless. In fact, snow flea activities are beneficial to nature and our environment.
What are Snow Fleas?
The term “snow fleas” is a misnomer because snow fleas are not really fleas, nor are they related to them. Instead, snow fleas belong to a group of arthropods known as hexapods or springtails. The hexapod class is a subphylum of arthropods that houses non-insect, wingless critters with six legs, and a pair of antennae. Snow fleas are tiny, insect-like, and without wings. They are often mistaken for bugs, but scientifically, they are more related to crustaceans. There are about 1900 snow flea species in the world, of which a good number exists in North America.
What Do Snow Fleas in Michigan Look Like?
Snow fleas are bluish-grey when magnified but appear black. They are tiny (about 0.05- 0.09 inches long). Snow fleas have a long, oval-shaped body with six eggs and a pair of antennae. They are wingless but move by jumping quickly with a speed of about 1.5m/s.
Like all springtails, snow fleas use their spring-like tail called furcula to jump. The furcula are attached to their abdomen by a strap-like structure called the retinaculum, which is important for their locomotion. Snow fleas are found in groups, as small black dots on the snow mostly found on the surface of the snow, rotten wood logs, leaf litter, and damp soil.
Why Are They Called Snow Fleas?
The reason is that snow fleas resemble common fleas and also appear during Winter. Snow fleas tend to migrate to the soil surface to find new food sources. Snow fleas can survive the harsh cold weather because they produce a proteinous substance that serves as an antifreeze. This substance consists mainly of an amino acid called glycine. Glycine can inhibit the formation and growth of ice crystals. As a result, the snow fleas can survive and grow despite the cold weather.
Do Snow Fleas Bite?
Snow fleas do not bite or transmit disease. They are non-parasitic. Organic matter in soil and decaying wood is the primary source of food for snow fleas. This makes snow fleas a vital part of the ecosystem. Snow fleas are also a good indicator of good soil.
So if you find these little critters in your yard or around your garden, then it’s a sign that your soil is not in the best shape. In cases where snow fleas are in excess, you can try to reduce excess moisture from your surroundings.
Snow fleas don’t typically require a professional. However, they are a sign that spring is on the way. Spring is a time for the reemergence of insects, including ants, spiders, crickets, and earwigs. Now is a good time to inspect your home for any unwanted pests. It’s also a good time to check the foundation of your home to ensure there are no entrance points where insects can enter and take up home.
Contact Solidified Pest Control today for all your Metro Detroit pest removal needs. Call us today at (866) 614-6762 for your free quote. We service all of metro Detroit, including Sterling Heights pest control and all your exterminator Royal Oak needs.
