Distribution

Sminthurus viridis is native to Europe and is present on the soil surface in many habitats such as grassland, woodland and heathland.

Springtails as a group are present in the soil of every ecosystem of the world - they have even been found in Antarctica.

They are very abundant with as many as a million individuals present per square metre of soil in some forest ecosystems.

Most springtails eat dead and decaying plant matter and fungal hyphae. Some also predate on other springtails.

Sminthurus viridis is unusual as it feeds mainly on live plant material, particularly leguminous plants such as clover.