A springtail is a small pest that thrives on moisture. They are commonly found in groups in dense swarms. When they sense danger, they spring into the air, creating clouds that are visible to the human eye.
When outdoors, Springtails seek wet soil or decaying organic material to make their home in, feeding on any mold, fungi, or algae nearby. Once the soil becomes dry, the pests move on to find more moist conditions, which often leads them indoors where they gather in clusters in houses, garages, basements, in houseplant soil, or anywhere that has dampness.
Springtails are not true insects because they have internal chewing parts instead of external ones. They grow to 1/16 inches in length and can be brown, black, grey, or white in color.
They reproduce when a male Springtail leaves packets of sperm cells in the soil that the female picks up as she deposits her eggs. If temperatures are ideal, the eggs can hatch in as little as a week. Nymphs spend up to six weeks growing into the adult stage.
While Springtails don't cause any severe damage to outdoor plants, they can chew through plant roots in the soil and cause leaves to yellow.
Indoors they are harmless to humans and pets but are a swarming nuisance since they can get under the carpet or in drains where cleanup is a must.
If you do find a swarm of springtails in your home it can indicate a moisture problem such as a leaky pipe or a bathroom tub and sink that isn't sealed properly.
The pests will also cluster inside the walls of your home if it was exposed to rain during a remodeling project and the framing was not allowed to dry. If they are discovered inside the walls, it can mean your home has a dangerous mold issue. Use fans to dry out your walls and consider hiring a mold removal professional.
If you have an outdoor swimming pool, you may find a swarm of springtails covering the surface of the water as they die off. This can be a real nuisance because their tiny size makes it hard to skim from the pool.
For most situations, however, you can simply wipe away the pests and their colonies for natural control. If larger colonies are present, they can be vacuumed with a shop-vac and emptied into a sealed garbage can.
To prevent a springtail infestation in your home, keep your yard trimmed and free of leaves and other organic matter.
Repair any cracks in your home's foundation where springtails can crawl into. Repair roof leaks and leaky pipes if needed.
Seal around all doors and window gaps to keep the pests from finding a way into your home.
Inspect the soil of your indoor potted plants for springtails by pressing your finger into the surface and watch for springing from the pests. If springtails are found, remove the infected plant outdoors and allow the soil to dry before bringing it back inside to eliminate the pests.
Keep moisture in the soil to a minimum to discourage new springtails from making your houseplant their new home.
Inspect any areas in your kitchen that are a breeding ground for mold and food source for springtails such as the kitchen sink drain. If you believe you have the pests in your drain, pour vinegar down your drain pipes, followed by a pot of hot boiling water.
To prevent the pests from nesting in your outdoor garden, clean up any garbage debris and damp, organic matter. Refrain from using compacted mulch which can protect springtail colonies.
Do not overwater garden soil since the extreme moisture can attract the pests. Water the soil, then wait for it to dry before watering again.
To reduce the pests in your garden, turn mulch often to disturb any colonies, eggs, and nymphs to the soil above.
Finally, if you live in a moist climate, expect to see some signs of springtails even with natural organic control. While eliminating the pests would normally be the goal, it is almost impossible to wipe them out entirely when the climate is always an ideal nesting condition.
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