Springtails, Silverfish, and Thrips

Springtail

Springtails constitute a small order of minute, wingless, soft-bodied insects usually found in moist places. They have no metamorphosis and are among the most primitive of insects. These tiny insects occur under leaves, boards, stones, on moist soil, in humans, or on moss.

Silverfish

The silverfish can be recognized by its flat fish-shaped body. A common household pest, it eats past from wallpaper, sizing from books and paper, and chews holes in starched and rayon materials. It is common in flourmills and bakeries. Silverfish are active at night and are sometimes found trapped in the bathtub or washbasin in the morning.

Thrips

Thrips constitute a small order of tiny, slender insects that can be distinguished from all other orders by their mouth parts, tarsi, and wings. All species require the use of a microscope for identification. Thrips live in flowers, on leaves, fruit, bark, in debris, decayed vegetation, and in the soil. While most are plant feeders, come causing economic damage, other are predators on other insects, mites, and their eggs.