Understanding When Springtails are Friends or Foes: The Comprehensive Layman's Guide

Springtails in the house or yard

• Springtails are harmless to humans and pets, do not infest them and have mouthparts that cannot bite. In rare cases they may cause allergic reactions. (at Introduction and Additional Notes)
• Mites, fleas, beetles, barklice or booklice and thrips are often mistaken for springtails. The kinds you meet in daily life are usually two millimetres or smaller. (at Identifying the issue)
• Springtails need high humidity to survive and seek out places that hold moisture. Mulch, paving stones, patios, compost piles and other damp places with organic material are ideal for them. (at Outdoors, Yards and Gardens)
• If you are sure springtails are not coming from outside, a permanently moist space in the home, such as a leak behind a wall or under a floor, must be letting them reproduce. (at Indoors, Bathrooms, Kitchens, Showers, Tubs, Sinks and Drains)
• Rain, drought, harvests of a nearby field and new construction can push springtails into a house. New builds can also trap more humidity than the outdoor air. (at Indoors, Other Areas of the Home)
• Run a dehumidifier. It dries the air and makes indoor spaces unlivable for springtails. (at Indoors, Bathrooms, Kitchens, Showers, Tubs, Sinks and Drains)
• Fix moisture problems first. Check siding, gutters, basements and leaks, because in those cases springtails are a symptom of a structural issue. (at Outdoors, Siding, Window Sills, Patios and Driveways)
• Seal access points such as holes in a window sill, and put very fine stainless steel mesh over vents so air passes but springtails do not. (at Indoors, Other Areas of the Home)
• Keep U-traps filled so springtails cannot come up through drains. Hot water down a drain can kill springtails inside it. (at Indoors, Bathrooms, Kitchens, Showers, Tubs, Sinks and Drains)
• Diatomaceous earth, a natural abrasive powder that damages springtail exoskeletons, can be used as a perimeter or dusted into crevices. (at Outdoors, Siding, Window Sills, Patios and Driveways)
• Sticky traps in trouble spots or likely access points stop springtails going further into the house. (at Indoors, Other Areas of the Home)
• Things often get worse before they get better, because removing habitat puts springtails out in the open for a while. Results may take 2 to 3 months. The author is not qualified to recommend strong chemical pesticides and does not. (at Foreword)
• Outdoors it is impossible to remove springtails completely. Pesticides are often recommended but rarely work for long. Removing the damp, organic places where they feed and breed is the cheapest and most effective step. (at Outdoors, Yards and Gardens)
• In plant pots springtails are beneficial. If they bother you, bake or freeze potting soil before use and rinse plants thoroughly before potting. (at Plant Pots)
• Snow fleas are springtails seen on snow, usually black or bright yellow. They do not bite and are harmless. They appear when the air is above or just below freezing. (at Outdoors, Other)
• Large numbers floating on a swimming pool often mean the yard is overpopulated or the springtails are looking for moisture in dry weather. (at Outdoors, Other)