What is a springtail?
Springtails are a type of nuisance pest that occasionally invade the inside of homes and other buildings. Adults are very small, growing to between 1/32 and 1/8th of an inch in length, soft-bodied, and have 6 legs. While they look gray in color to the human eye they actually come in a variety of bright colors including blue, purple, yellow, gray and/or orange. The most distinctive feature of the springtail is their furcular, a tail-like appendage that is found underneath of their abdomen. The furcular releases from their abdomen and sends the springtail into the air and out of harms way very quickly.
Why do I have them?
Springtails usually live outside in dark, damp environments like in mulch, soil, leaf piles, and underneath of potted plants; feeding on mold and fungus. Springtails sometimes move inside of homes through cracks and crevices found in the foundation, exterior walls, or through spaces found around windows and underneath of doors. They tend to move inside when the weather outside becomes too dry or too wet for them to live comfortably. Once inside of a home or other building they are found in damp areas like bathrooms, basements, crawl spaces, kitchens, on window sills, and in the soil of potted plants.
Are they dangerous?
Springtails are not a dangerous pest, they are not known to transmit any diseases to people and do not bite. They do not harm the structure of your house and cause no damage to established plants that are located within your home. Even though springtails are not dangerous they tend to enter homes in large numbers and can become quite a nuisance for homeowners.
Can I do it myself?
Do-it-yourself springtail control is not recommended, because of their small size and ability to hide in difficult to reach areas of your home, the best way to handle a problem with springtails is with the help of an expert. It is also important to note that DIY pest control products can be very dangerous to you, your family, pets, and plants if not placed or mixed properly.
At Schendel our home pest control programs provide customers with a thorough inspection and safe, effective treatments to completely eliminate springtails from your home. Contact Schendel Pest Services to see how we can help to get rid of nuisance springtails from your property.
How soon can you get here?
We are dedicated to making sure that we get help to you as quickly as possible, we understand how stressful pest problems can be for you and your family. In most instances, Schendel will respond the same or very next day.
Is the treatment safe?
Yes, our treatment methods are safe for use around people, pets, and plants. We use the least amount of material possible to solve your pest problem whether that is using natural products, baits, mechanical means, or conventional products.
We follow very strict guidelines, and all of our conventional products are EPA registered. Our trained and experienced service technicians will also inform you of any specific safety measures that may need to be taken before treatment begins.
How much does it cost?
We have standard pricing for all of our pest services, based on average size homes under 3500 square feet and where the infestation does not require more than the standard number of services. We will always make you aware of any price changes before we start your service. Sign up for your FREE quote today and see how much you can save with Schendel.
How can I prevent this in the future?
In addition to putting into place a year-round home pest control program, there are several things you can do around your home to help prevent problems with springtails.
- Caulk gaps found in your home’s exterior walls and the foundation.
- Install door sweeps on all exterior doors.
- Eliminate excess moisture outside of your home by fixing leaky fixtures and making sure that gutters are working properly to direct water away from your home.
- Remove piles or leaves and other piles of organic debris from your property.
- Inside of your home reduce humidity levels by using dehumidifiers and/or air-conditioners.
