Jun 14, 2012 – Springtail Solutions

QUESTION:

I have a potential client who has an infestation of Springtails. This client had used the services of another pest control company but they were unsuccessful in removing the problem. I read the labels of several of the products that I have in my arsenal but was unable to specifically find Springtails listed on any of those labels. Can you recommend a treatment to eliminate an infestation of Springtails?

ANSWER:

There actually are quite a few products labeled specifically for springtails and you can find this list on PestWeb in our Product Documents resource. Just select the tab "Products by Target Pest" and then "Springtails". You then can view each label to see if it meets your needs.

Springtails feed on tiny bits of algae, molds, fungi, and decaying plant materials, all of which suggests that a moist setting is necessary, and this is exactly the case. A dry micro-habitat will not support springtails, so control needs to revolve around controlling the moisture that must be present. Sometimes this will be in unsuspected places when the springtails are indoors, such as a crawlspace below or landscaping outside. These insects are quite mobile and may move from where they are breeding and living to other places where they are seen. For crawlspaces some added ventilation may be needed to help dry things out. For landscape it may be caused by excessive mulch or thick vegetation too close to the structure. Daily watering of landscape keeps things wet, so altering this schedule to allow the soil to dry will help. Moving things up off the soil or the concrete patio will help to dry out the surfaces and discourage the insects. 

They often find interior moisture sources too, and potted plants indoors are common sources for springtails. This may be remedied by covering the soil with a thick layer of moss or, even better, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings. Worse, the moisture source could be within walls or under floors if there is a leak in the plumbing, and this could be investigated as well. Perhaps it is exposed leaks under sinks, and these could be repaired easily. But, every resource you read on controlling springtails emphasizes the need to reduce moisture that is providing the food and conditions necessary for these insects to survive. They are easily killed with insecticides, but would continue to re-invade if there is a hidden source for them. 


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