What Do Springtails Look Like?
Springtails are a species of hexapod and are closely related to insects, but are not actually considered to be insects. Springtails are extremely small and have soft bodies. These creatures have a special tail-like appendage called a furcular underneath of their abdomen; to escape danger, they release this appendage and jump into the air, hence the name “springtail”. To the naked eye, springtails appear to be a gray color, but these pests actually come in a wide range of colors including gray, blue, purple, yellow, and orange.
Are Springtails Dangerous?
Springtails aren’t considered to be dangerous pests: they don’t sting, bite, or transmit any known diseases to people; instead, springtails are considered nuisance pests. When dealing with springtails, it is important to understand that they are attracted to moisture and are usually found living in moist, damp areas, which means that their presence inside your home may be an indicator of a moisture problem.
Where Am I Likely To Find Springtails?
Springtails feed on a wide variety of decaying organic materials such as vegetation, fungi, bacteria, pollen, algae, and carrion. When outdoors, springtails are often found living in or underneath leaf piles, mulch, ground debris, firewood, or logs. These pests often enter homes on potted plants but will also enter homes through window screens, door thresholds, and around utility pipes if the weather outside becomes too hot and dry for them to live comfortably. Once inside a home, these moisture seeking pests typically take up residence inside kitchens and bathrooms, crawlspaces and behind basement walls; they can also become problematic inside stuffed furniture and bedding if these items become water damaged or moldy.
Does Modern Offer Springtail Control?
Yes, we do! When you contact Modern for springtail control in Houston, Katy, or elsewhere in our service area, a licensed pest control technician will inspect your property, determine what conditions are attracting them to your home, and then develop a plan of action to eliminate these pests from your home or business. Visit our residential or commercial pest control page to learn more about how we can help get rid of springtails on your property or contact us for more information.
How Can I Prevent Springtail Infestations?
One of the best things that you can do to deter springtails from invading your home is to reduce the moisture levels inside it by using air conditioners, dehumidifiers, and by making sure that the crawl spaces in your home are properly ventilated. It is also a good idea to inspect plants before bringing them inside of your home to avoid introducing springtails into your home and to not overwater the potted plants in your home. Springtails are attracted to light, so turning off outdoor lighting when they are not needed can help to prevent these pests from being attracted to your home. If springtails do find their way into your home, however, the best course of action is to dry out the areas of your home that the springtails have invaded, which should cause most of the springtails to either die or leave your home. To completely eliminate these nuisance pests from your home, contact the professionals at Modern Pest Control. We would be happy to provide the services needed to rid your home of these pests!