Springtails are attracted to light and are so small that they can enter houses through cracks and crevices such as around doors, utility pipes, or window screens. Repair torn screens and close up places where the springtails can enter the house, such as spaces under doors and around windows and attic or basement vents.
Springtails are not a danger to people, pets, or to the structures of buildings; they are, however, an invading pest that can enter homes in large numbers and can become quite a nuisance. Because of their ability to jump and their small size they are often confused with fleas that do bite and do transmit diseases.
They can be a temporary nuisance, but migrations usually last less than a week and springtails trapped indoors soon die out. If migrations occur try to eliminate all obvious moisture sources around the building.
Springtails may be found in bath traps, around hot tubs, in humid crawl spaces, under mulched areas, under patio slabs, under logs, wood chips, pine straw, and other areas that are prone to high moisture.
Signs of a springtail infestation include noticing small jumping insects around sinks, bathtubs, or damp areas inside the home. You may also see them congregating in large numbers on surfaces such as window sills or basement floors. In outdoor areas, springtails may be present in moist soil or leaf litter.
Spray oxygenated bleach directly on large populations of springtails. Bleach will immediately kill springtails. Spray cider vinegar on springtails. This type of vinegar is highly acidic and will quickly burn and kill springtails.
When their environment outdoors becomes dry, springtails search for moisture. They may invade homes or move to more favorable outdoor areas such as areas near swimming pools. They enter homes through window screens, open doors, vent pipes, or in potted plants.
Because of their small size, springtail control can be difficult, since they are hard to see and difficult to find. When looking at a fresh layer of snow, springtails tend to look like flecks of pepper or ashes on the surface.
Sometimes, Springtails get in your house and flourish when they find hidden leaks, damp areas, and a food source (like molds, algae, and bacteria). Look for these areas and address: Look for damp crawl spaces, basements, intermittent foundation leaks. Use a dehumidifier (portable or permanent in-line ducted system).
Springtails thrive in damp areas and are most commonly found around bathroom and kitchen sinks, floor drains, pipes, potted plants, and in basements or crawlspaces with excess moisture. They feed on mold and fungus, so fixing any moisture issues is key.
What smell do springtails hate? The high acidity content of vinegar can be used as a natural insecticide by burning and killing springtails.
Springtails are active year-round, and prefer relatively cool temperatures. During the winter in snowy areas, they are most active on sunny days. During the warmer months, or year-round in non-snowy areas, they are more active on cooler days.
While springtails can go away on their own, it's really unlikely.
Springtails also thrive in damp crawlspaces. From these areas, they can easily move into the living space. People also find springtails in unusual places. There have been reports of springtails living in storage sheds inside of damp mattresses or upholstered furniture that has gotten wet.
Even doctors vehemently denied that springtails were likely to infest human hair and skin.
These jumping pests are mistaken for “fleas” because they behave in the same way. It's no wonder that people who don't encounter springtails in their home refer to them as snow fleas.
Springtail nesting sites will typically be somewhere damp and dark. Their nest will also usually be located near any area where you may have seen them gathering, since springtails do not move very quickly or far in general. They are not able to travel great distances before settling into a nesting habitat.
Inside buildings, aerosol "creeping and crawling" pest control materials can be used to provide some short-term knockdown of springtail populations. Total release aerosol (so-called bug bombs) are not recommended because these products rarely get into the cracks and crevices where springtails may be hiding.
They absolutely escape. We started finding springtails in other enclosures we hadn't put them in yet. That said, they're so small that I've never seen one running around elsewhere, even while looking for them.
Springtails become very active when their environment starts to dry. As they hop, they are able to enter homes. They enter through basement windows, crawlspace vents, and garage doors. Springtails are able to crawl under doors that have damaged weather-stripping.
It is very true that spring-tails also known as carambola are often a sign of mold in the home. Mold and springtails do have a correlation.
WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN TREATING FOR SPRINGTAILS. Now once you start treating a springtail problem, you should expect the process to take a good 2-3 months. Outside applications will eventually end the migration inside. But seeing them inside will be ongoing.
Locating, drying out and treating places with excessive moisture, especially if the moist condition harbors mold or mildew growth. Such locations may include dampness around tubs and sinks or inside damp wall voids. In addition, using vacuums to remove adult springtails that are either alive or dead is helpful.
Is it common to find springtails in your home? Springtails in house environments are common when moisture (i.e. humidity and leaks) are present. In addition to moisture, springtails are attracted to light, so they will enter homes through doors and gaps in window seals.
Most often springtails that are found indoors did not enter via sewers, shower drains, bathtubs, or sinks. When springtails are noted in these areas, it is typically because they have found a way in and are drawn to the moisture of the area. Springtails can be found where they will have a readily available food source.