Did you ever wonder why the garden soil in Spring smells so distinctive? It's fairly well-known that the odor is caused by soil bacteria that produce a volatile substance. But, as the late Paul Harvey used to say, here's "The Rest of the Story."
While browsing the latest issue of Popular Mechanics Linda came across an article that ties the production of that Spring odor to a tiny soil insect called a springtail.
Most people have never seen springtails because they are so small and live mostly in the soil and leaf litter. Some species can be seen on the surface of snow in winter. They are called "snow fleas" because they look like little black dots jumping about the snow surface. They are propelled by an extension of their abdomen that lies folded under their body. When disturbed this structure is released, flipping them into the air. That's why they are called "springtails."
To learn how they are related to the odor of Spring you should read the Popular Mechanics article.
