SPRINGTAILS – COLLEMBOLA

Collembolans are part of the community of decomposers that break down and recycle organic wastes. The name Collembola, derived from the Greek "coll" meaning glue and "embol" meaning a wedge, refers to a peg-shaped structure, the collophore, on the underside of the first abdominal segment.

I am sure I spent many years just walking over these creatures as they crawled on dandelions and other small flowers, not noticing them because I was not aware they existed. Now i see them everywhere and when I do, I respectfully acknowledge their importance