A Tiny Problem (AKA: It's a small thing)

I had an amazingly good picture sent to me recently for identification and I realized I haven’t talked about these little insects* on the blog yet.

There are millions of springtails in the

soil. They are tiny so most people will never notice them outside. There are over eight thousand species worldwide wide but most scientists will tell you that is a huge underestimation. It’s just that no one has identified the rest yet. They get the name “springtail” because many species have a mechanism that allows them to launch themselves up in the air.

So why are springtails an issue in pest control? Because, like many things, they can get inside. Since they are super small, they can get in through very narrow cracks and crevices that can be nearly impossible to see. Also, like many pests, they are an indication of moisture issues. Springtails typically live in moist soil. When things get too dry, or too wet, they start to migrate to areas that are more preferable. They are soft bodied (yes, they still have an exoskeleton), hence they can desiccate quickly when they don’t have the right moisture levels.

I’ve had many issues where heavy rains and hurricanes have flooded areas. That pushes the springtails to slightly drier areas where they won’t drown. Droughts have a similar effect; they are escaping the excessive dryness

There’s one very cool species that gets the name “snow flea”. They emerge on winter days when the temperatures get just over freezing. Their little black bodies contrast with the white snow and make them very noticeable.

While they are harmless to people, no one wants a few million springtails invading their home or business. Especially if it’s a food facility, restaurant, pharmaceutical site, or healthcare location. Normally, the recommendation for anything coming from the outside is to just seal up the structure so they stay on the outside where they belong. I’m not saying you shouldn’t. I am saying these are so small, they will find the tiniest little areas to get inside.

That leaves sanitation. In this case, sanitation isn’t necessarily food, it’s water. Finding areas that have water leaks, are humid, or improving drainage on the outside of the structure can all help. Dehumidifiers can dry out indoor areas, but finding ones big enough for say, a large warehouse isn’t always possible. Sometimes, having fans to provide air movement is a more reasonable option. Since these are so soft bodied, they desiccate pretty quickly if conditions are right.

Outside, it’s important to remove any standing water and not overwater areas. I often see issues with these at facilities with automatic lawn sprinklers. They go on and keep going on even if the ground is wet. Another area I find these is around HVAC units, especially in warmer months. The AC slowly drips water, creating a nice warm, wet area that they thrive in.

So, springtails can be a big issue from an annoyance standpoint and a food safety issue. Like all our pests, control isn’t always straightforward and easy. That’s why we are professionals. That’s why I help professionals be better at what they do! So contact me to see how I can help you.

*yes, there is an argument whether these are truly insects or fall in a different class. I’m old school and still call them insects in the family Collembola. Fight me on it.