springtail
noun
spring·tail
ˈspriŋ-ˌtāl 
: any of a class (Collembola) of small wingless six-legged arthropods that have internal mouthparts enclosed in folds of the head, usually possess a furcula used for jumping, feed especially on fungi and decaying vegetation, and are typically found in moist or wet surroundings (such as soil or in caves)
called also collembolan
Examples of springtail in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
What is the difference between a flea and a springtail?
—
Marina Johnson, IndyStar, 25 Jan. 2026
Despite their name, springtails pose no risk to humans, according to the University of Minnesota Department of Entomology.
—Cailey Gleeson, jsonline.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Sarah Moore Wet, cold weather that hit ahead of Winter Storm Fern is revealing springtails, ancient arthropods typically found on snow piles during the winter.
—Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Michigan's wet, cold weather is revealing springtails, ancient arthropods typically found on snow piles during the winter.
—Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 13 Jan. 2026
The spores were then able to pass through the springtail’s digestive tracts and emerge ready for action from the other end.
—Tom Hawking, Popular Science, 12 June 2025
The mechanism is complicated, but here’s the gist: A lot of things that salamanders eat, including springtails and beetle larvae, chew up leaves on the forest floor.
—Benji Jones, Vox, 18 June 2024
Engineers at Georgia Tech are the first to study the mechanics of springtails, which leap in the water to avoid predators.
—IEEE Spectrum, 25 Nov. 2022
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Marina Johnson, IndyStar, 25 Jan. 2026
Despite their name, springtails pose no risk to humans, according to the University of Minnesota Department of Entomology.
—Cailey Gleeson, jsonline.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Sarah Moore Wet, cold weather that hit ahead of Winter Storm Fern is revealing springtails, ancient arthropods typically found on snow piles during the winter.
—Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Michigan's wet, cold weather is revealing springtails, ancient arthropods typically found on snow piles during the winter.
—Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 13 Jan. 2026
The spores were then able to pass through the springtail’s digestive tracts and emerge ready for action from the other end.
—Tom Hawking, Popular Science, 12 June 2025
The mechanism is complicated, but here’s the gist: A lot of things that salamanders eat, including springtails and beetle larvae, chew up leaves on the forest floor.
—Benji Jones, Vox, 18 June 2024
Engineers at Georgia Tech are the first to study the mechanics of springtails, which leap in the water to avoid predators.
—IEEE Spectrum, 25 Nov. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Springtail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/springtail. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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