The first thing to know when you’re getting rid of springtail bugs is where they are originating from. Once you discover where their nests are, you can start a plan of action to end them. This article will answer your question--how to get rid of springtails in my home?
What is a Springtail Bug?
The name Springtail may not necessarily imply that they are pests. In fact, they have a pleasant-sounding name. But the real truth is these tiny bugs are very annoying. These Springtail bugs (Collembola) come in a variety of colors and shapes. And this makes it difficult to distinguish whether you are dealing with springtails.
This insect has a segmented body, three pairs of legs, and antennae. They are very small in size. One interesting fact is that each species has a different mouthpart. You need to have some insight as to what bug you are dealing with.
You can call a licensed pest control company. They can help determine that you are dealing with springtails.
The Distinction of a Springtail Infestation
What is a Springtail bug? It is an insect that is often mistaken for a flea. This mistaken identity is due to their extremely small size. As well as the ability to make movements like jumping and hopping.
These tiny insects, including baby springtails, are ⅛ of an inch in length, black in color, and have no wings. They have a humpback appearance and a distinctively shaped head. Beneath the abdomen of this insect is an appendage. It looks like a fork and behaves in the same manner as a spring. This appendage gives the insect a sudden push or boosts into the air when it becomes startled.
Springtail bugs are harmless. They do not send disease or bite. The primary issue with Springtail bugs, just like bed bugs, is the nuisance they cause. Particularly during the spring and summer months. During this time of year, there are large numbers of these insects everywhere. Outdoors you will find them around garages, patios, and pools. Indoors you will find them near sinks and bathtubs and in basements. As well as other places where moisture gathers.
The purpose of this article is to help you in learning how to get rid of springtail bugs.
What Brings Springtails to a Home?
Springtail bugs will come indoors as they seek dry land following a severe rainstorm. Even though they can survive in any environment, they prefer damp, humid, and moist habitats. But are springtails attracted to light? The answer is yes. The light of the indoors, and the warm, humid atmosphere are what attract these pesky pests inside. Once they invite themselves into a home, you will be asking how to get rid of springtails in your home.
How to Get Rid of Springtail Bugs
Before you can know how to get rid of springtail bugs, you must figure out where their nests are. A springtail’s nest is damp and dark. Springtails do not move quickly. So they do not like traveling distances. Thus, nests are close to their areas of migration.
Some of the places you can find a springtail nesting is:
- Beneath moist soil and mulch
- Underneath concrete slabs like patios
- Decaying plant material
- Compost piles or other decaying organic matter material
- Flower pots
- Around the decks of pools
- Underwood chips, pine straw, and logs
- Beneath wooden decks
- Inside under bath traps, in kitchens, bathroom sinks, and under linoleum tiles
- Around the areas of hot tubs and jacuzzies
- Under the insulation, sheetrock, and sheathing of your home or any areas where moisture gathers
You have found their nest and confirmed you have an issue with springtails. Now you need to find out how to get rid of springtails in a house. The best option to rid these pests from your home and life is to call a professional pest control service.
How to Get Rid of Springtails in a House
These pesky pests cause no real harm. Yet, once they make a house their home the residents feel a good deal of frustration. One can seal off all potential leaks and keep the house as dry as possible. Once they are indoors, an infestation can be overwhelming. Disregarding any casual efforts to get rid of springtails in a house. For this reason, it will be necessary to contact a professional pest control company.
The pest control company you contact can do a complete inspection of your home. This inspection aids in determining if you have an infestation of springtail bugs. An infestation of springtail bugs gives you two options. Either for chemical or non-chemical springtail treatments.
Looking for a Springtail Infestation
There are 500 various springtail species in the United States and Canada, including bathroom springtail fleas. They are small in size--from 1/32 inches to ⅛ inches--this is dependent on the species.
These insects thrive in a humid, damp atmosphere. Should the climate become dry they can dehydrate very fast. Their primary diet consists of algae, bacteria, and fungi. Or whatever is available in the surrounding areas of their nest.
Springtail populations can have astronomical numbers. For instance, as many as 30,000 of these insects live in a square meter section of a field of crops. Also, a single cubic foot of forest litter can have 50,000 of these little pests.
These insects are in golf courses, parks, greenhouses, and gardens of urban areas. People can bring them indoors in the potted plants of hotels, malls, and offices. These insects can also habitat under leaf litter in a flower bed or garden outside. The areas around the swimming pools are not safe either. They like living here, too. The box where your water meter is another place for springtails to hang out. They even like living under dog houses and timber boxes.
As you can tell, if you have any moisture around your house or yard, you are in danger of a springtail infestation. The best way to learn how to get rid of springtails is to call a professional pest control company.
Look for the signs of springtail infestations in places where mold or mildew are present. Underneath the kitchen or bathroom, sinks are a good place to start. Take everything out of the cabinet and search the drainpipes. If there are any leaks, this could be attracting the bugs. Allow these areas to dry out to cause a deterrent to the bugs.
Inspect the tile and grout for tiny bugs that jump in bathroom. There may be mildew behind any tiles that are missing. Also, check for a leaky trap or pipes under the sink.
The next place to inspect is the basement (if your home has one). A basement can be very damp and the ideal place to house springtails. One method to aid you in how to get rid of springtails is to put a waterproofing compound on the walls of the basement. Also, you can set up a dehumidifier. These are all things to do to deter springtails by removing dampness in a basement.
There are some of the measures one can take to end an infestation of springtails. But the best option is to call a licensed pest control company to learn how to get rid of springtails.
How to Get Rid of Springtails
If you live in an atmosphere that is dry, you have never had to worry about these pesky pests. Yet, for the rest of you, this can be quite a frustrating topic. Let’s get one thing straight about these insects--they do not bite! Some species may cause the skin to become dry and itchy (similar to an insect bit) but it is definitely not a bite. This is true because they do not bite human skin.
Call a professional pest control company to help learn how to get rid of springtails. These professionals can perform a complete inspection. They will then advise you on the best plan of attack.
How to kill springtails?
Does vinegar, a common springtail killer, kill springtails effectively? This is a frequently asked topic regarding springtail eradication. But, know that the high acidity of vinegar burns the pests, immediately killing them when poured or sprayed on springtails. As an alternative, you could also burn and drown them in a mix of water and detergent.
Why do Springtails Come Indoors?
These insects prefer the outdoor climate. But, should it get too dry outside, including springtails on deck, they begin to migrate indoors in search of moisture. They travel to areas of the house that contain the most dampness. Areas such as the bathroom, kitchen, and basement. On occasion, springtails will infest a new constructed home. This happens if the building materials are damp and supportive of the growth of mildew and mold. Pests may come on the premises by way of natural, water-based fertilizer and mulch. The same material is used for landscape plants and other landscaping property.
Springtails become more active as the climate becomes drier. This causes them to hop great distances to gain entrance indoors where it is less dry. They can crawl beneath damaged weather stripping on doors. Come in through crawl-space ventilation, garage doors, and even basement window screens.
If their livelihood is being threatened, springtails will find any way to protect it. Once they get inside a house, you need a professional pest service. This service will assist you in how to get rid of springtails in the house.
How to Get Rid of Springtails in Other Areas of the Home
Sometimes you may recognize signs of springtails in other areas of the home. The reason they enter a certain room is because of a leaky pipe, a bathtub or sink not sealed or walls that are porous.
The mold or mildew within the walls of a house is another thing attractive to springtails. A new home sometimes has the potential for mold if exposed to excess moisture while framing.
The use of chemicals or insect repellent might be a good idea when trying to end springtails. If the source of what attracts these pests is not eliminated, a new group will re-appear.
Following elimination attempts, vacuum the carpet to remove all remaining springtails. Next, inspect the home’s ventilation system. This is a necessity to verify there is no humidity or dampness in circulation within the air of your home.
It is also essential that you inspect the areas around the doors,windows, and light fixtures. This ensures there are no leaks. To prevent water or moisture from gathering, make sure to caulk off areas that are prone to leaking.
You can do all these steps to end springtails. But, the only way to ensure removal once and for all is to call a professional pest removal service. This service is the best way for you to know how to get rid of springtails.
You will need a licensed, professional pest service if these pests enter other areas of your home. Only then will you learn the best ways of how to get rid of springtails.
How to Get Rid of Springtails in Your Home
Now that you have verified a springtail infestation, you need to know the answer on "how to get rid of springtails in my home?".
The easy answer to this question is to end the water and moisture within your home. These pests find areas of your home most prone to moisture attractive. The areas most prone to humidity and moisture are the bathroom and kitchen. Areas where water settles beneath the sink, bathtub, or shower.
Any form of mold or mildew is an open invitation to these small insects. For this reason, it is imperative to clean the cracks between tiles as well as behind the head of the shower. Ensure you do a complete cleansing of your bathroom and kitchen to get rid of springtails, as these might also invite some other tiny bugs in your bathroom. This should be completed before beginning any plumbing repairs.
You can use simple soap and water to clean the mold and mildew in your bathroom. You can also use a cleanser that contains a chemical such as bleach. Once you have cleaned away the mold and mildew, you need to ensure to seal the cracks with caulk.
When looking for the answer to how to get rid of springtails in my home, you can first clean up all the mildew and mold. Then seal up all the cracks with caulk. Finally, you can make the call to a licensed, professional pest control company.
All these suggestions to assist you in removing springtails from your home are great. But, the best way to ensure these pests are gone and not coming back is to call a professional pest removal service.
