In: Environmental Pollution, 2006, 140 (2), pp.364-370. Directional traps, both horizontal and vertical, were used to assess the behavioural impact of phenanthrene application on soil springtail communities. Avoidance was not detected. Rather, a vertical attraction of the dominant species, Folsomia manolachei, was demonstrated, as well as a decrease in horizontal movements of Lepidocyrtus lanuginosus, another important species mainly captured at the soil surface. Ecological consequences of the results are discussed.