Are snow fleas harmful to humans and pets and can they live indoors?

Answer 1

Snow fleas are actually called Springtails. Snow flea is just a nickname. They are actually hexapods, not fleas, they do not display any parasitic behaviour such as blood sucking and lack the instruments to suck blood. They were mistaken for fleas because they have the ability to jump.

Springtails eat dead plant matter, bacteria, fungi, algae, pollen, roundworms and sap.

They are not harmful to humans or other animals since they are not a parasite like true fleas. They are actually beneficial to the environment because they help break down dead plant matter and other soil objects to help decomposition and put more nutrients back into the ground for future plants or crops. They are used by professional gardeners to control fungi growth in greenhouses.

They can live indoors too. They will live in damp, wooden areas such as bathrooms and basements, eating away the dead, damp wood. This can cause structural issues and damage the building. But the springtails are not to be blamed - they are unable to tell the difference between a bit of damp wood holding up your staircase and a bit of rotten tree. A pest controller can deal with them however by chemically spraying the wood in your home.

Answer 2

No, snow fleas do not bite. They are harmless. They are also known as springtails.

Answer 3

No, snow fleas are not dangerous at all. The snow fleas only come out in the cold winter months. They are also not dangerous to dogs or other animals.