Springtails are tiny, moisture-loving arthropods that can suddenly appear in large numbers around bathrooms, basements, kitchens, houseplants, foundations, patios, and other damp areas. Although they are harmless to people and […]
Can Springtails Live on Humans? The Truth Behind the “Human Infestation” Claims
Search for springtails and humans long enough and you will eventually encounter alarming claims about these tiny arthropods living in skin, hair, wounds, or even inside the body. That makes […]
Are Springtails Harmful to Humans?
Tiny jumping bugs in a bathroom, basement, or around a sink can look like something you should keep away from your skin. With springtails, however, the human-health risk is much […]
Are Springtails Harmful to Cats and Dogs?
A cat staring at tiny bugs jumping around a houseplant or a dog sniffing at them on a damp patio creates an obvious concern. Pets investigate small moving things with […]
Are Springtails Dangerous or Harmful?
A cat staring at tiny bugs jumping around a houseplant or a dog sniffing at them on a damp patio creates an obvious concern. Pets investigate small moving things with […]
Why Are Earwigs Called “Earwigs”? The Story Behind the Name
Earwigs are called earwigs because of an old and widespread belief that the insects crawled into people’s ears, particularly while they were sleeping. The name has survived for centuries even […]
Thrips on Tomato Plants: How to Identify and Control Them
White-to-silvery patches appearing on young tomato leaves can be easy to blame on sun, watering stress, or another small pest. Look more closely and you may find tiny black specks […]
Can Thrips Fly?
Yes, adult thrips can fly, although many pest thrips are not strong, sustained fliers. Their tiny bodies have two pairs of extremely narrow wings fringed with long hairs, giving the […]
The Thrips Life Cycle
The thrips life cycle moves through egg, two actively feeding larval stages, prepupa, pupa, and adult. That sequence can look like complete metamorphosis at first, but thrips do not have […]
How Big Are Thrips?
Thrips are tiny insects. Many pest thrips are about 0.5 to 1.5 millimeters (1/50 to 1/16 inch) long, although size varies by species. Some larger thrips reach about 2.5 to […]