Springtails

6884.       Found in a water valve, at the dead end of a chlorinated water system, so likely stagnant water (which has depleted chlorine residual). Several white insects on rusted water valve chamber. Pemberton, British Columbia. Canada.

Number 6884. These are springtails, primitive arthropods in the order Collembola, closely related to true insects. These basically are harmless scavengers on bits of decomposing organic matter, but they can become nuisance pests when they occur indoors in large numbers. They are quite susceptible to desiccation, so keeping indoor humidity levels as low as practical is the best control. Click here for an example