Springtails: The "Hopping Black Pepper" After Rain

Those tiny, jumping specks after a warm winter rain are springtails (Collembola). They hatch en masse in damp conditions and use a spring-loaded tail (furcula) to leap. Harmless and beneficial, they feed on decaying organic matter and fungi. No control needed—they'll disappear as the soil dries. Consider them a sign of healthy, biologically active soil.