springtail
noun
spring·tail ˈspriŋ-ˌtāl 
: any of an order (Collembola) of small primitive wingless arthropods that are either classified as insects or are placed in a related class (Entognatha), that have internal mouthparts enclosed in folds of the head, usually possess a furcula used for jumping, exhibit incomplete metamorphosis, feed especially on fungi and decaying vegetation, and are typically found in moist or wet surroundings (such as soil, on the surface of water or melting snow, or in caves)
called also collembolan
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web At first blush, the scientists noticed that springtails were attracted to the Streptomyces bait, but wanted to conduct further testing. 
Courtney Linder, Popular Mechanics, 14 Apr. 2020 The frogs likely evolved their tiny stature to take advantage of ecological niches few other creatures can, for instance by hunting equally tiny prey such as ants, termites, and springtails. National Geographic, 27 Mar. 2019 Various other organisms also popped up alive in the mollusk feces, including springtails, ciliates, nematodes, mosses, and plant seeds. Yao-hua Law, Science | AAAS, 27 Mar. 2018 Spot the mouse tunnels, the rabbit tracks, the deer scat, the tiny springtails (also called snow fleas) popping out of the snow to gobble algae. Look for reeds nearly hidden by snow and empty nests highlighted by it. Grant Segall, cleveland.com, 8 Feb. 2018 But spiders do not show any predilection for human flesh, preferring the taste of insects and another small beastie called collembola, or springtail. Steve Mirsky, Scientific American, 1 June 2017 The frogs likely evolved their tiny stature to take advantage of ecological niches few other creatures can, for instance by hunting equally tiny prey such as ants, termites, and springtails. National Geographic, 27 Mar. 2019 But spiders do not show any predilection for human flesh, preferring the taste of insects and another small beastie called collembola, or springtail. Steve Mirsky, Scientific American, 1 June 2017 Various other organisms also popped up alive in the mollusk feces, including springtails, ciliates, nematodes, mosses, and plant seeds. Yao-hua Law, Science | AAAS, 27 Mar. 2018 See More
Courtney Linder, Popular Mechanics, 14 Apr. 2020 The frogs likely evolved their tiny stature to take advantage of ecological niches few other creatures can, for instance by hunting equally tiny prey such as ants, termites, and springtails. National Geographic, 27 Mar. 2019 Various other organisms also popped up alive in the mollusk feces, including springtails, ciliates, nematodes, mosses, and plant seeds. Yao-hua Law, Science | AAAS, 27 Mar. 2018 Spot the mouse tunnels, the rabbit tracks, the deer scat, the tiny springtails (also called snow fleas) popping out of the snow to gobble algae. Look for reeds nearly hidden by snow and empty nests highlighted by it. Grant Segall, cleveland.com, 8 Feb. 2018 But spiders do not show any predilection for human flesh, preferring the taste of insects and another small beastie called collembola, or springtail. Steve Mirsky, Scientific American, 1 June 2017 The frogs likely evolved their tiny stature to take advantage of ecological niches few other creatures can, for instance by hunting equally tiny prey such as ants, termites, and springtails. National Geographic, 27 Mar. 2019 But spiders do not show any predilection for human flesh, preferring the taste of insects and another small beastie called collembola, or springtail. Steve Mirsky, Scientific American, 1 June 2017 Various other organisms also popped up alive in the mollusk feces, including springtails, ciliates, nematodes, mosses, and plant seeds. Yao-hua Law, Science | AAAS, 27 Mar. 2018 See More Word History
First Known Use
1781, in the meaning defined above
- in/at one fell swoop
- in/at one go
- in/for the foreseeable future
- in/from the depths of someone's heart/soul/being
- in/into care
- in/into gear
- in/into high gear
- in/into the swim (of things)
- in/into the swing of
- in/of the order of
- in/under someone's control
- in/within living memory
- in/within the space of
- INA
- inabilities
- inability
- inabsorbability
- inabsorbable
- inacceptable
- inaccessibilities
- inaccessibility
- inaccessible
- inaccessibly
- inaccuracies
- inaccuracy