Its English name in the United States is snow flea, but there are also additional springtails[1] (and insects) called by that name.

They are often seen jumping about on the surface of snow on a warm winter's day in North America.

[2] Researchers at Queen's University (Canada) have sequenced and synthesised the anti-freeze-like protein that allows H. nivicola to operate in sub-zero environments,[3] and found it to be glycine-rich.

There are hopes that similar proteins may be useful for storing transplant organs and for producing better ice cream.

[4] By preventing the formation of ice crystals in tissues, organs could be stored at lower temperatures, increasing the time of their viability outside a living body.