What Illinois Homeowners Should Know About Snow Fleas in Winter

Winter is prime snow flea season in Illinois, but there's no need to freak out the next time you see clumps of little black bugs all over your yard.

Illinois Winter Benefits

I know I'm in the vast minority when I say that I don't mind the winter season in Illinois.

Do I get sick of dreary days with no sunshine? Of course!

Do I like the ice that comes along with many winter storms? Heck no!

Do I hate when it gets so cold outside that you feel like your nose hairs are freezing? Absolutely!

While there definitely are a few big reasons to hate winter in Illinois, I tend to focus on the reasons to love it.

Snow is pretty.

We can wear comfy hoodies and sweaters while cuddling under a blanket on the couch.

There aren't bugs everywhere trying to sting and bite us. But, there are some bugs who thrive during the winter and always give people major cases of the yucks.

They are called snow fleas.

What Are Snow Fleas?

The first time I saw a clump of tiny black, jumping bugs in my neighbors yard during the winter, I ran directly into the house to put flea collars on my dogs.

However, the truth is, these tiny black bugs were not worth panicking over, because they pose no harm to our homes or our pets.

Snow fleas aren't fleas at all, they are tiny insects called springtails.

These bugs don't bite, but they do jump (hence the "flea" part) and they’re beneficial for your yard because they eat fungi, bacteria, and decaying plants.

Snow fleas are actually active all year long, but people notice them most during the winter thanks to all the snow on the ground.

Snow fleas love moist areas, and they really love it when temperatures rise just above freezing and the snow begins to melt.

How to Get Rid of Snow Fleas

Preventing snow fleas from taking over your yard is pretty simple: keep your yard clean.

Clearing out leaf piles, avoiding laying mulch too thick, and improving drainage in soggy parts of your yard will work wonders keeping snow fleas out. The same goes for inside your home. These insects need moisture to survive, so as long as you keep things dry, you can enjoy living a snow flea-free life.