Entomobrya nivalis, the cosmopolitan springtail, is a species of slender springtails in the family Entomobryidae.[1]
The cosmopolitan springtail measures about 2 mm in length. Its color consists of a yellow or white background with dark pigment forming transversal bands along the third segment of the thorax and the segments 2 to 6 of the abdomen. The fourth segment of the abdomen has a U- or 11-shaped pattern that easily distinguishes this species from others in the genus Entomobrya.[2]
The cosmopolitan springtail is found in temperate and polar regions of North America and Europe.[3] Juveniles usually live in the leaf litter of forests and migrate upward after becoming adults, living among lichens growing on trees. During winter, they shelter under loose portions of bark.[4]
The hemolymph of the cosmopolitan springtail is rich in antifreeze compounds, allowing it to withstand the very low temperatures of winter.