How can I control springtails?

Answer

Dear Hans,

Springtails basically feed on dead, decaying organic matter, sometimes also on pollen grains, fungi, fungal spores and algae. Springtails are found everywhere in nature, they can be found in the bedding layer where it is damp, under fallen leaves, in the lawn, in the compost heap, on tree trunks, sometimes also in damp cracks and crevices of a terrace or the facade, in a footpath close to home, on flat roofs where water often remains, in clogged gutters and drain pipes, in mosses on the facade, in indoor flower pots or in pots with patio plants, in a damp canal nearby, in short, everywhere where it is sufficiently moist is.

The best control of these springtails consists of preventive measures, so look for their habitat in which they develop en masse, and if possible remediate this environment, i.e. make it less pleasant for these springtails, e.g. avoid the development of mosses on terraces and facades, flat roofs clearing waste and gutters so that drainage is optimal, moving compost heap further from home, avoiding litter, etc. Perhaps the environment around the house is so humid that when the sun shines, the water evaporates in the soil and ends up on the facade, which of course creates a favorable microclimate for these primitive insects. Apparently springtails sometimes also have the tendency to move en masse at certain times, a kind of migration, so the reason for this is not immediately known.

In principle, the springtails in the house are doomed (no food, and a much too low relative humidity). After all, springtails cannot survive in a dry environment. These organisms do not damage the home. Springtails don’t sting or bite; there are also no known cases in the literature of skin irritation caused by these insects. In case of nuisance, the vacuum cleaner can be used daily.

Citronella oil only works temporarily because of its volatile nature. Chemical treatment is often pointless if the environment is not cleaned up. One option is to treat the facade with an insecticide with some residual effect. The company Edialux has a number of products for private use, which can be purchased in the larger garden stores (e.g. Aveve), see http://www.edialux.be/nl/ problems/insects/cockroaches. I myself am not aware of the efficiency of these products against springtails, but the person in charge of the phyto department can certainly give you more advice about this. Good luck!

Kind regards,

Hans