Monday, March 21, 2011

Springtail

Also called Snow fleas, Springtails are tiny insects (often less than 1/8 of an inch in length), that thrive in damp locations; such as moist soil, leaf mold, underneath bark, inside decaying logs and on the surface of pools.

The Springtail's color ranges from black to silver-gray. The most distinctive characteristic of the Springtail, is "tail-like" mechanism that is attached to their abdomen. When the Springtail snaps it down on to a surface, it springs the insect into the air.

If a routine pest control inspection uncovers the presence of Springtails, it may indicate excessive moisture conditions; inside walls or crawl spaces, under sinks, or around indoor plants. Aside from allergies and dermatitis in a small percentage of people, Springtails are harmless to humans and pose no additional risk; to homeowners or tenants.

Read more about Springtails.

3 comments:

  1. The presence of Springtail pests, is a strong indication of excessive moisture; in the home. Therefore, their presence can alert homeowners to a potential problem, that might encourage the introduction of cockroaches (for example), and the subsequent need for additional pest control services; to address more unwanted pest problems.

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  2. I submit that homeowners with ponds or swimming pools located on their property will experience the most difficulty with Springtail pests. Other than accumulating of the top of large pools of water, Springtails rarely cause problems that would require an exterminator, to address.

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  3. This pest is much more common around large bodies of water, like pools and ponds, and as such is unlikely to require the attention of an exterminator; indoors.

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