It seems that annually pest management professionals encounter a particular pest or groups of pests that are giving them nightmares. For instance, last year we were having a difficult time in one geographic region managing odorous house ants. We were making numerous extra service calls and using a variety of products trying to find the right combination. While we had success in suppressing the populations in any given account, we simply could not knock them out. However, this season in these same accounts the ants are gone.
This year our nemesis is springtails. It appears that they are problematic for other companies in our area because we frequently receive referrals as “the company that knows how to take care of them.” In all honesty we have not found the ultimate solution, although we willingly accept the challenge and are working on it.
ALL ABOUT SPRINGTAILS. These tiny insects are almost microscopic in size (some as small as 1/32 inch long), tubular in shape, antennae with four to six segments, small eyes and most have a small forked “tail.” Customers typically characterize them as fleas (they jump) in the bathtub and/or sink — which are almost a certain giveaway that they are springtails. “Jumping” is the result of the spring-like forked structure (furcula) that is normally held under the abdomen by the clasp-like (tenaculum) being released causing the insect to “jump” 3 to 4 inches. The “jumping” is not produced by the legs as is the case with fleas and other jumping insects.
Like silverfish and several other groups of insects, springtails molt throughout their lifetime, even as adults. Typically they molt five to 10 times over a period of two to three months until they reach the adult stage.
They differ from most insects in that they lack a breathing tube system; thus, they take in air through their cuticle. For this to happen the cuticle is not sclerotized (hardened) and therefore they are subject to rapid loss of moisture through the cuticle, similar to termites. Long-term survival is dependent on remaining in a protected and moist environment.
Around structures, springtails typically are found in the soil (concentrations can be as high as 50,000 per cubic foot), leaf litter, mulch, under objects on the ground, landscape timbers, logs and outdoor door mats. They feed on decaying organic matter, fungi, bacteria, pollen, algae, dead animals and insects.
In structures they commonly are found in high moisture areas, such as tubs, bathroom and kitchen sinks, around window sills and framing, door thresholds and framing, crawlspaces, basements, French drains, and molding natural fiber materials, such as paper, books, fabrics, etc.
Areas where I have encountered the most significant springtail problems are:
- The most common site of infestation in offices is potted plants.
- Sump pump and French drains in a new home within one year of construction.
- Expansion joints in the basement of new and older homes.
- Moisture damaged wall resulting from faulty installation of siding and trim.
- Poor drainage under a deck.
- Thick accumulations of mulch around the foundation (entering around doors and windows).
The bad news is that springtails enter in massive numbers when weather and moisture conditions change dramatically. They enter structures when it is too wet and their microhabitat becomes flooded — they seek higher ground. On the other hand, if the habitat becomes too dry (e.g., periods of drought, areas such as deep mulch beds, etc.) they enter a structure seeking moisture. The good news is that unless they find favorable conditions (e.g., a lot of moisture and food) they rapidly dry out and die. The bad news is that customers don’t want to see thousands of tiny insects dead or alive in their homes on the floors and window sills.
MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES. The following are some of the treatment methods our company employs:
- Place out monitors to determine areas of activity and measure success or failure of management techniques — springtails are readily trapped on monitors.
- Correct moisture conditions:
Exterior foundation — correct drainage around structure so moisture doesn’t collect next to foundation, under decks and other areas close to the ground.
Reduce irrigation around the foundation.
Reduce the thickness of mulch to no more than 2 inches and replace mulch periodically so it doesn’t develop thick mats and grow mold and fungus.
Check wood and drywall moisture content on the inside of the structure. Moisture content at levels more than 18 to 20 percent should be investigated and corrected as needed.
Ensure that sump pumps and French drains are functioning properly and drain correctly. - Caulking and sealing points of entry — not worth the effort these insects can crawl through an opening as small as 1/32 of an inch. They can readily crawl under door seals and seals around windows, e.g., the side slides, the area between double hung sashes, sliding window and door cracks.
- Product Application:
Treat interior and exterior openings of all areas previously mentioned under “caulking and sealing” with an appropriately labeled insecticide — preferably a liquid microcap on the exterior and pyrethroid on the interior. Dust may be equally effective but very noticeable in these applications.
Treat exterior areas, particularly next to the foundation to the soil line (this may mean that mulch must be raked back and treated as it is pushed back). I haven’t found the pyrethroids (liquids or granules) to be particularly effective in this situation. We have tried some garden formulations containing carbaryl and acephate but are still waiting to see if these products prove more effective. In either case at this point applications may need to be made at 7-14 day intervals particularly if the conducive conditions can’t be corrected and the infestation persists.
MANY UNKNOWNS. Unfortunately there is not a lot known about springtails particularly information on the products most effective in managing infestations. Furthermore this is not a pest that rates in the top 10 perhaps (not even the top 100) unless it is your customer who has them by the thousands. Springtails might be itsy, bitsy, teeny, weenie occasional invaders but they are a challenge to eradicate.
Author’s note: For more information on this topic, see NPMA’s Field Guide to Structural Pests, Section 7.25.1 by Eric Smith and Richard Whitman.
The author is president of Innovative Pest Management, Brookeville, Md. He can be reached at 301/570-3900.

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