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Old 03-18-2009, 10:35 AM
 
411 posts, read 899,024 times
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Okay, this is a new one to us. We routinely keep food outside in the snow when the weather is cold. Our fridge is a smaller one, and not near big enough for 5 adults and all the food we have, plus eggs, milk, and everything else we produce. So out in the snow it goes.

Two days ago we found tiny blue bugs on the containers and bags that were out there. I'm talking tiny. They have the same shape as fleas, and hop like them as well. However, they are not fleas. They seem to be a bit fuzzy, and are blue. Seriously, kinda blue. Fleas also hatch as adults, and these are way too tiny for fleas. So not a clue what they are!!! Online searches have produced nothing and I'm at a loss. Anyone got a clue?

These guys are in EVERYTHING, from the mud to the snow. They congregate in HUGE numbers, the ground literally moves in spots w/all the bugs. Someone tell me they aren't little black flies... that would suck. lol
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Old 03-18-2009, 10:36 AM
 
Location: Corinth, ME
2,712 posts, read 5,655,274 times
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I have heard of something called "snow fleas" (no kidding!) could this be them?
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Old 03-18-2009, 10:58 AM
 
Location: West Michigan
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Snow Fleas. Some years they are are all over, other years you don't see hardly any of them.
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Old 03-18-2009, 11:09 AM
 
Location: Florida (SW)
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............and it says they are blue! The plot thickens!
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Old 03-18-2009, 11:16 AM
 
Location: Deer Park, WA
722 posts, read 1,511,804 times
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The things you learn on here I never would have guessed such a thing.
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Old 03-18-2009, 12:58 PM
 
Location: Way South of the Volvo Line
2,788 posts, read 8,015,308 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tankratt View Post
The things you learn on here I never would have guessed such a thing.
Do you mean light colored blue or dark. Snow fleas are typically dark with a blue sheen. From a most distances they look black. They are a timely harbinger of Spring!!! Otherwise they might be some other type of harmless springtail or thrip.

Snow Flea - Hypogastrura nivicola - BugGuide.Net
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Old 03-18-2009, 02:11 PM
 
411 posts, read 899,024 times
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Yep, they are snow fleas. After I posted, we were speaking to our neighbors, and she informed me what they were. In all our years in Maine we've never seen nor heard of them! But that's what they are, and they are indeed harmless. Well, except wanting to get into whatever I've got out there. Luckily, the containers are all sealed tight, and no harm done. Thanks everyone!
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Old 03-18-2009, 04:59 PM
 
Location: Forests of Maine
37,468 posts, read 61,406,816 times
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Thanks I never heard of 'snow fleas' either.

We keep a lot of food outside in the snow banks too.

Must be on the look out for those little bugs.

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Old 03-19-2009, 09:28 PM
 
Location: Belfast, Maine
277 posts, read 891,734 times
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Wow this is the first time I have ever heard of such a thing. I have lived in Maine all my life(23 years) and never seen a snow flea...I'm going to the backyard first thing in the morning!
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Old 03-20-2009, 06:00 AM
 
Location: Way South of the Volvo Line
2,788 posts, read 8,015,308 times
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What's interesting about the snow fleas is that they move in a wave. Most of us that are familiar to them usually see a dark peppering on the snow that slowly but surely MOVES! We like to track their progress when we see the on a hike.
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