Springtails (Howe: homes, tile, organic)

[RoundRockinite]

It sounds like a Disney movie but in my case it's a horror movie.

I noticed some on the tile floor near my couch and vacuumed them up. I then checked by the door and saw dozens! I vacuumed them up. The next day I saw a bunch more so I vacuumed again and sprayed bug spray around the door and just outside.

They keep coming! And so today, Saturday, I went outside and saw thousands of them on the side of the house. The internet says that there are millions of them in lawns and so that is where they are coming from. I spray all around the door outside as well as under the outside stairway, all around the grass and so forth as best I could. However, apparently they have nests. Hopefully I got them. They are crawling all around my bottom floor.

Thankfully, they are just a nuisance and don't bite, and apparently die off quickly. I have sticky paper in each corner of my garage and they are there as well. I spray the foundation with cykick every month and just did so recently with a high concentration but apparently it doesn't affect these little buggers.

Also, they are tough to vacuum up as they can JUMP! They spring all over the place, perhaps mocking me.... Yippeee!!!

Attached is a photo. Anyone else have this problem? What did you do to handle it or solve it?

Chris

[CptnRn]

Never heard of them before but I found this:

Springtails are minute (about 1/16th inch), elongate and generally dark-colored (some have iridescent scales and some may be light colored). They have a forked appendage that allows them to jump. In nature, they are very abundant in the soil and leaf litter where they play an important role in decomposing and recycling organic matter. They feed on algae, fungi, and decaying vegetable matter.

Springtails are an occasional nuisance inside homes. Because of their small size, they can easily enter under doors and through small cracks in the foundation. They are associated with damp conditions which may be in an area near a plumbing leak or excess condensation. Springtails may also be found in the soil of a potted plant, especially if it is overwatered. They don't cause any particular damage but can be annoying, particularly when they occur in high numbers.

To control springtails, remove leaves, mulch and other organic material from around the foundation. Seal any obvious cracks and spaces in the foundation. Be sure water drains away from the foundation. Inside the home, dry out areas where springtails are found by correcting leaks or condensation problems. Use of a fan or dehumidifier helps dry out an area and reduce springtail numbers. Springtails are generally a temporary problem and die when moisture is reduced. Insecticides can help reduce a springtail population but will not eliminate them if a moisture problems persists.

[RoundRockinite]

Thanks. I saw something similar as well.

I can try sealing the interface between the foundation and the hardiplank. I think they were crawling through there. I sprayed bug spray like crazy earlier. It only helps temporarily as the article states.

I think the problem is that the back part of the home gets little sunlight but the sprinkler is there. I plan to keep that zone off for a while so that moisture on the outside is not present.

[AGA]

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I am sure there is an advertisement in here somewhere, but it had lots of good info!!!