We’ve received a few calls for springtails, but there is typically not a need for a full pest-control service for them. In fact, there are environmental factors that need to be handled first to remove their breeding grounds. So even if you treated them with pest control products, they would likely continue to be an issue without those environmental issues addressed.

What is a Springtail?

Springtails are tiny, jumping insects found in backyards, soil and leafy piles. They are sometimes incredibly small, some just 0.2 mm but most are around 1 to 2mm in length. They are harmless and provide a valuable benefit of recycling dead leaves and plant material into nutrients which helps fertilize lawns. That said, most people don’t want them invading their home.

In some areas, springtails may crawl onto a house and enter through gaps in the doors, windows or even between rocks or bricks.

How to Stop Springtails from Getting Inside

To keep springtails out, you can use caulk or an expanding foam to seal those cracks or gaps where insects can enter. You can also replace door or windows seals or improve the weather stripping around these entry points.

That helps keep them out, but if you want to handle them, you’ll need to adjust the habitat where they multiply. They can live off of heavy moisture, saturated areas that remain covered and lack air flow and the resultant fungal growth that results.

• Remove excessive mulch particularly near the home. Rake mulch away from the home at least 1 foot away from the foundation.
• Remove leaf piles or accumulation of organic material near the foundation.
• Repair any water leaks or dripping pipes near the home.
• Overall, just remove or handle any overly saturated and wet, covered areas that can harbor pests.

For springtails already inside you can simply spray vinegar directly on them or use a water/bleach mixture to kill them.