On a recent hike I stopped to look at the handiwork—or should I say toothiwork?—of a porcupine on a riverside tree:

 

 
I’m rather fond of porcupines, and see far too many of them dead on the road, killed by motor vehicles, so it’s always pleasant to find sign of Porky’s activities in the wild. The photo above shows where one ate the bark of a hemlock, a favorite meal. Hemlocks are abundant here, so his chowing on this tree shouldn’t bother anyone.

Not far down the trail these tracks crossed the path:

 

 
A snowshoe hare passed this way. His large, furry feet are perfectly adapted for deep snow, but the snow of the late winter woods is dense and not very deep anymore. Still, this fellow left his mark.

 

 
I bent to get a closer look at the tracks to be sure I’d identified their maker correctly, and that’s when I noticed a lot of dark specks on the snow. Look carefully in the picture above and you’ll see what I mean. Here’s a closer shot:

 

 
Ah hah! It’s the time of year when snow fleas emerge, and that’s what those black specks are—springtails by another name. Here’s another view:

 

 
All over the snow around the bases of trees I could see the snow fleas. They emerge on warmer days, and are easy to spot on the snow because they’re dark. Take a hand lens the next time you go hiking on warm days when there’s still snow on the ground so you can get a closer look at these guys:

 

 
Can you see their antennae and feet? They’re not really fleas, but instead are wingless insects with an unusual pair of legs in the last segment of their bodies. These legs fold forward and are held against the abdomen with a pair of clasps which, when loosened, force the legs to swing down and spring the insect away several inches—thus the name “springtail.” It’s this hopping motion which has given the insect the impression that they’re fleas. On warm winter days they emerge from the snow to bask in the sun. What do they eat? Detritus. With earthworms, slugs, and other soil-dwelling critters, they help to break down the organic matter which accumulates in the woods. Without these organisms, fallen leaves and branches would not rot, and soil wouldn’t be enriched with nutrients released by decomposition. So the next time you enjoy the rich aroma and lush wildflowers and ferns of the woodlands, thank the springtails.

 
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