Have you ever experienced springtails invading your yard and home? These nuisance pests are fairly small, have soft bodies, and have 6 legs. They come in a variety of colors like yellow, purple, and orange, but they mostly look gray to us. Underneath their abdomen is a forked appendage that allows them to spring themselves into the air to get out of danger very quickly. This appendage is called a furcular.

Springtails prefer to live outdoors in places like moist soil, mulch, and leaf piles. They feed mostly on mold and fungus found outside. They will occasionally find their way inside homes through tiny cracks and crevices in and around doors, windows, and exterior walls to seek shelter from exterior conditions that are too wet or too dry. Indoors they will be attracted to damp places in your bathroom, kitchen, basement, potted plants, and window sills.

These springy pests are not a danger to humans or pets because they do not carry or transfer any diseases, and they do not bite. They also are not a danger to your home or plants, but they are considered a nuisance due to the large numbers in which they can congregate.

As with most DIY pest control, taking care of springtails yourself is not recommended, especially because springtails are so small and cannot be reached when they are hidden; not to mention how dangerous DIY treatments can be to people, pets, and plants if they are not used properly. You should contact a professional pest control service and invest in a year-round home pest control program. In the meantime, you can help prevent them from invading your home by:

• Fixing or replacing all damaged or missing screens, vents, and window and door frames

• Seal off all gaps and crevices in your exterior walls and foundation of your home

• Make sure all exterior doors have working door sweeps

• Repair leaky pipes and fixtures

• Clear clogged gutters right away

• Remove leaf piles from around your home

• Eliminate standing water on your property

• Install dehumidifiers in damp rooms

By contacting Schendel Pest Services you can be assured that we will do a thorough inspection and use effective treatments that are not harmful to use around people, pets, and plants. We will use the smallest amount of product necessary to get rid of all of the springtails inside your home. We also know how stressful pest problems can be, and we are dedicated to our customers and can usually visit the same or next day. Be pest-free with Schendel Pest Services.