Springtails: tiny, everywhere, and totally harmless

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Look closely at damp potting mix or a compost heap and you might spot a fine "dust" that suddenly... jumps. Those are springtails — minuscule wingless creatures that ping away using a spring-loaded tail tucked under their body. If you've got them, congratulations: your mix is alive and well.

What they actually do

Springtails graze on fungi, algae, mould and decaying matter, helping cycle nutrients and keep everything in balance. They're one of the clearest signs of a living, properly composted bed.

The catch

Essentially none for your veggies. In seed-raising trays kept constantly sopping wet they can nibble at emerging roots — but that's really an overwatering problem wearing a springtail costume.

What to do

Nothing at all. Take them as a compliment to your soil life. If they're bothering you on indoor seedling trays, just let the surface dry out between waterings. (Not to be confused with fungus gnats — similar damp-mix trigger, but gnats fly and can actually be a minor pest.)

Not sure whether the bug you've spotted is friend or foe? Our Garden Trouble Calendar shows the pests and diseases that are actually active in your area right now — everything else is usually one of the good guys.

Image: Andy Murray, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.