Frequently Asked Questions About Springtails

What you need to know about springtails

Springtails are unique pests that often invade our Virginia homes and properties by the thousands. Though they are often called insects, springtails aren’t true insects; they are actually hexapods.

What are springtails?

Springtails are tiny, soft-bodied creatures that are whitish, bluish, or dark gray to black. Their most unique feature is their furcula, an appendage tucked under their abdomen. Springtails force fluid into the base of the furcula, pushing it to the ground and propelling the springtail forward. The furcula can propel a springtail more than four and a half feet!

Springtails have high moisture needs and therefore often flock to our lawns and gardens, taking advantage of the damp environment they provide. During periods of dry weather, they migrate towards moisture, sometimes ending up inside our homes.

Are springtails dangerous?

Springtails are considered nuisance pests. Even though springtails don’t pose any direct danger to people, their presence in our homes can be a warning; due to their high moisture needs, their presence can indicate a moisture problem on the property that needs to be repaired.

In addition, if springtails are moving into your home, this means that there are openings present that could allow other, more problematic insects inside. Another problem with springtails is that they can invade in very large numbers, making them difficult to control and remove from your property. A square meter of soil can be home to around 100,000 springtails!

Why do I have a springtail problem?

Springtails feed on decaying plants, fungi, molds, and algae that thrive in high humidity areas like wooded areas, gardens, flower beds, and similar areas with a lot of dense vegetation. Springtails gather in large numbers under mulch, leaf litter, decaying tree stumps, or fallen trees.

People with backyard pools or other man-made water features tend to be more susceptible to problems with springtails. They gather on the top of the water and create a scummy film when they die. Leaks around the pool cause the soil to become very damp which attracts springtails.

Where will I find springtails?

Springtails prefer to live outside but will use our homes as a place of respite from hot, dry weather. A benefit of being so small is that springtails can move through the tiniest spaces, their most common entry point being cracks in the foundation and gaps under basement doors. While springtails primarily enter homes on their own, they also hitchhike indoors inside potted plants.

Springtails are most successful in areas of a home that are naturally humid, like basements, crawl spaces, under sinks, and around floor drains.

How do I get rid of springtails?

Springtail infestations are incredibly frustrating to deal with. The best way to get rid of springtails from your Fairfax, VA area property is with the help of a local professional. You can trust the professionals at SPRK Pest Solutions to provide you with quality, guaranteed pest control that is effective and eco-friendly.

Through thorough inspections, treatments designed to meet your home’s unique needs, and follow-up visits, you can be sure that springtails will no longer feel welcome on your property! For the best pest control in Fairfax, contact SPRK Pest Solutions today and learn more about our home pest control and commercial pest control services.

How can I prevent springtails in the future?

If you want to avoid problems with springtails, implement the following prevention tips:

• Maintain gutters to direct rainwater away from the exterior of your home.
• Cut landscaping back from your home’s exterior to help keep the soil around the perimeter of your house dry.
• Avoid overwatering gardens.
• Make sure your yard has good drainage.
• Install a dehumidifier in your home to help reduce excess moisture.
• Remove leaves, woodpiles, and brush piles from your yard that collect moisture.
• Before bringing potted plants into your home, inspect the soil for springtails.

For help guarding your Fairfax area property against springtails, call today!