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What insect is this? #873536

Asked June 17, 2024, 8:30 PM EDT

We've lived in a semi rural township in Stearns county for five years and have never had these bugs until a few weeks ago. I looked through your identifying page, but didn't think I found anything that matched. Do you have any opinion on what it might be? Thanks for your time.

Stearns County Minnesota

Expert Response

Thank you for your question.

This insect is a Hairy-Backed Girdled Springtail (Orchesella cincta). If you enlarge the pic that you sent, you can observe protruding hairs along its side. Hence the name it has. I could not find any recent reports of its being found in Stearns County; it has been found in Hennepin County. Here is some information about it and more generally, springtails:

http://www.minnesotaseasons.com/Springtails/belted_springtail.html

https://bugguide.net/node/view/2074430

https://extension.umn.edu/nuisance-insects/springtails

https://vegedge.umn.edu/insect-pest-profiles/springtails

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orchesella_cincta

Thanks for consulting us. Please get back to us with any further, related questions.

An Ask Extension Expert Replied June 19, 2024, 9:05 AM EDT

Thank you so much for your reply and information!


On Wed, Jun 19, 2024, 8:05 AM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied June 19, 2024, 9:28 PM EDT

Glad to be of assistance.  Thanks again for using our forum.


An Ask Extension Expert Replied June 19, 2024, 10:10 PM EDT

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