Springtails

What Are Springtails?

Springtails, known scientifically as Collembola, belong to an ancient lineage of modern hexapods. They get their name from a remarkable ability to leap great distances using a tail-like appendage called a furcula, which folds beneath the body and snaps down to launch the insect into the air. Sometimes called snowfleas, springtails are generally considered harmless. Their jumping habit, however, often leads homeowners to mistake them for fleas.

Identifying Springtails

As tiny hexapods, springtails usually measure around a sixteenth of an inch and have six or fewer abdominal segments. They carry tubular appendages with sticky, retractable vesicles on the first abdominal segment, with the furcula positioned on the fourth. Their color varies widely, from bright white to grey, brown, and black. Most are slender and elongated, which is why they can be confused with fleas, though some varieties are rounder and stouter in shape.

Life Cycle of Springtails

Springtails can live anywhere from one to two years and develop through egg, larval, pupal, and adult stages. Females lay their eggs in soil, and the larvae hatch several weeks later, feeding on organic matter as they grow. After a few more weeks they reach adulthood and continue the cycle. Remarkably, springtails can produce up to five generations of offspring in a single year, which allows populations to build quickly under the right conditions.

What Attracts Springtails Indoors

Springtails prefer moist outdoor settings rich in mold and organic debris to feed on. They sometimes hitch a ride indoors on a potted plant, but they can also enter on their own, especially when their outdoor habitat dries out and they go searching for moisture, slipping in through cracks and gaps around doors. Once inside, they head straight for damp areas such as basements, kitchens, and bathrooms, and are most often found in ground-level bathrooms, frequently infesting the bath trap. Because they depend on moisture, an indoor infestation usually signals a water leak or excess dampness.

Are Springtails Dangerous?

Springtails cause no damage and pose no danger to people or animals. Their jumping ability frequently leads to them being mistaken for fleas, which can be alarming, but unlike fleas they do not bite and are entirely harmless. In fact, they play a beneficial role in the environment by aerating soil and helping to decompose organic matter, returning nutrients to the ground.

How KR Gets Rid of Springtails

When springtails appear in large numbers they can be tough to eliminate, and treatments alone are only a short-term fix. The real solution is correcting the underlying moisture problem. Helpful steps include improving drainage away from the foundation, making sure irrigation is not soaking the foundation or over-watering the landscape, installing a dehumidifier in damp areas, and improving ventilation in crawl spaces. When professional help is needed, the participating providers in our network can apply targeted treatments and address the moisture conditions for lasting relief. Call (855) 560-1396 for help.