Springtails!

Springtails (AKA: Collembola) are really tiny insects that live in the soil, leaf litter, and even on the water's surface. They are an extremely important part of the soil food-web, mainly because the help speed along the process of decomposition. We spotted this one on the underside of a shelf fungus that had fallen onto the ground. 

This is what they look like close-up. 

Of course there are many thousands of species of springtail and not all of them look like this. They got their name from their predator escape behavior.  When disturbed, springtails can release a special spring-loaded appendage on their underside that propels them into the air very quickly. 

This one might need to use its "spring" pretty soon if it gets attacked by the spider crouching nearby!

Most springtails eat microorganisms such as fungi, bacteria, or nematodes, but there is one species called the lucerne flea (Not a flea at all!) that is a pest of alfalfa and some grains. Generally though, we can classify springtails in the good bug category!