Thank you both zeba and Rina! That's very helpful... I've been at a loss for a reason why they're there. I've repotted all my indoor houseplants into gritty mix variations (depending on species) so finding these tiny creatures has been an interesting ordeal. Yes, sometimes I neglect to empty water saucers and have standing water for a little while which may certainly attract them; I've now stopped being lazy and always empty them. I'm beginning to think the springtails originate from outside my house, entering inside from an attached deck which stays moist due to faulty gutter drainage. It's an old house with a number of similar quirks. Watering less and using DE Dust appears to be helping. I'll keep everyone updated! Thanks again for the insights!

Okay, finally at a computer so I can get a better look. You may have clover mites (brown) and most likely cyclamen mites (white). Most importantly is to use at least two different types of miticides in rotation to ensure they do not become resistant, as mites multiply and adapt quickly. If you have any expensive succulents or plants, I recommend one of the following incredibly effective but costly miticides. One bottle may last you the rest of your life: Avid 0.15EC: Group 6 Mode of Action. Translaminar is absorbed into the plant cells and kills for 2 weeks ($80). Floramite SC: Unique Mode of Action. Contact miticide but provides 2 weeks of residual killing ($80). If you opt to skip one of the first two, you may try the following miticide. I have never tried it on succulents or cyclamen mites before, so you may report its effectiveness back to us. Sevin: Group 1A Mode of Action. Kills on contact, no residual action ($10). For a second miticide, you should get this one as it is cheaper and easier to obtain. You can find it in Safer's End All, Scott's Eco Sense, or Bayer 3-in-1 (and many others). Pyrethrin: Group 3A Mode of Action. Kills on contact, no residual action. Repeated applications become more phytotoxic to plants ($15). If your plants are small and you do not opt for Avid, Floramite, or Sevin, you should consider an ultrasonic cleaner. Or it's good to have anyway because it works extremely well. This is the most effective method of applying miticide to plants ($40). The cavitation process will dislodge the mites, deliver miticide deep into plant crevices, and any eggs are likely to be removed. You should use your miticide of choice along with a little dish soap or insecticidal soap. This will improve cavitation. Plus you can clean your jewelry after (with new water and soap, please). You will need a good strategy to eradicate the mites. This is where I think most people have trouble and fail. Mites are seriously tough. Apply the first miticide as per label instructions. Wait 2 weeks for the next generation to hatch and grow. Apply the first miticide again as per label instructions. Wait 2 weeks for the next generation to hatch and grow. Inspect thoroughly. Apply the second miticide as per label instructions. Wait 2 weeks for the next generation to hatch and grow (if any are left). Inspect thoroughly. Apply the second miticide as per label instructions (if any are left). Inspect thoroughly as you now should be mite free. I would take action soon as possible to limit damage to your collection. Mites start slowly, but once they are in large numbers they can cause an incredible amount of damage. Having a microscope and keen eye (like you've shown already) are probably the two most helpful things to enable you to be successful.

I went to Payless Shoes last week and found a pair of black clogs on sale for $27.00 regular $54.99. When I went to pay, I asked the cashier if they still took AMA for an additional 10% off. She said no, as the shoes were only $10.00. She told me that any shoes with a red tag were $10.00. I told her to hang on a minute and went back and found a pair of sandals, then grabbed a pair of earrings and a necklace. Total price for everything was $27.01. Then I went to the Goodwill store and found a brand new winter jacket (still had the tag on from the original store) for $7.00, but it had a green tag and it was green tag day so the jacket ended up costing me $3.50. Next, stopped at Penningtons because I needed a belt. Found one I liked for $24.99 and went to pay, cashier said that will be $1.04. What??? She said it rang up at $0.99. So, all in all a good shopping day for me.

I do not know what the bugs are. Plantlets look ok. I wouldn't complicate rooting so much - I don't see advantage of using paper towels; as you found , it could e annoying trying to get the roots detangled (I never heard of this method). I like it as simple as possible. Most of the time, I just lay leaves on surface of pretty gritty mix and they root and grow in it. I transplant them easily when they are big and start interfering with each other. These were transplanted recently since pot was getting too full:Bunch of leaves started in same pot & gritty mix - 2nd photo as they are now; soon to be given individual pots: