Members of the order Collemgbola are very small insects, less than 1 cm long. They are wingless as well and they have abdomen with 6 segments or less. They have short, segmented antennae as well, divided into 4 to 6 segments. Some also have structures called furcula or collophores, which help the insect live.

Members of Collembola are important to nature as they are scavengers, not pests. They are also very abundant at times, with their populations in the millions per acre in some areas.

Springtails are found in many different mediums. Some can be found among tree bark and soil, while others are found in fungi or on water.

Order Collembola is divided into two suborders, Arthropleona and Symphypleona, which differ from each other in shape and number of segments.