OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES FACT SHEET
ENT-52-14
Springtails
David J. Shetlar and Jennifer E. Andon, Department of Entomology
Springtails (Order Collembola) are considered to
be primitive, tiny, wingless hexapods (having six legs)
that some consider are true insects but others believe
that they are simply insect-like arthropods. Springtails
get their common name because most have a forked
structure on the tip of the abdomen, which can be
used to jump or spring into the air. Springtails tend to
thrive in humid environments where they are often
very numerous. They are commonly found among wet
leaves, within soil and mulch, and under rocks and
logs. When outdoor conditions are unfavorable (i.e.,
hot and dry), springtails may enter the home, seeking
out basements, bathrooms and other moist areas of the
house. Some species of springtails are semi-aquatic in
habits and they may cause alarm to homeowners when
seen in large numbers along sidewalks and driveways,
or on mud puddle surfaces, etc. They can often build
up large numbers around above-ground pools where
water may be saturating the soil. In wet basements,
they have been known to cover walls that have mold
growths. They are usually most apparent in the moist
periods of spring and early summer, but they can be
found year-round. Some are known as “snow fleas,”
appearing on the top of snow during late winter and
early spring. These very small, jumping insects do not
bite humans, nor do they spread disease or damage
household furnishings. In rural areas, they can end up
Slender springtail, Entomobryidae
Globular springtail, Sminthuridae
in well or spring water. This is because some species
feed on the bacterial and algal scum that can coat the
well surface or where spring water emerges. While these
insects are typically only a nuisance, some species may
feed on the stems and roots of young seedlings, resulting in wilting or even death.
Identification
Springtails are minute insects, usually 1–3 mm in
length. As a result of their size, they are seldom observed
unless their populations build up. Colors vary from white,
gray, yellow, orange, metallic green, lavender to red with
some being patterned or mottled. Most are elongate
or globular in shape, with a hump-backed appearance.
Their mouthparts are attached inside the head capsule,
which differentiates them from most other orders of
insects where the mouthparts are attached to the sides
of the head capsule. Most springtails are able to catapult
themselves (leap) through the air by means of a taillike mechanism (furcula) tucked under their abdomen.
When disturbed, this appendage functions as a spring,
propelling them into the air away from danger. Young
springtails resemble the adults except for size and color.
Adults may continue to shed their exoskeletons (molt),
which is not the norm for most true insects.
extension.osu.edu
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Springtails—page 2
Control Measures
Prevention
Water springtails, Podura aquatica, Poduridae
Life Cycle and Habits
Springtails occur in nearly every climatic condition
throughout the world, such as in high mountain regions,
pools, streams, snow-covered fields, forest floors, etc.
They live in soil, leaf mold, under bark, in decaying
logs, on the surface of pools, in organic mulches, in
termite nests, in greenhouses, in mushroom cellars, etc.
Populations can reach numbers that are up to 100,000
individuals per cubic meter of surface soil, or many millions per acre. Most feed on algae, fungi and decaying
vegetable matter and they are abundant only in damp,
moist or very humid locations. Others feed on plant roots
or nibble on young plant leaves and germinating seeds
in hotbeds. They are considered beneficial because
they are decomposers (they are good recyclers). For
example, they are among the few organisms known to
break down the insecticide DDT in the soil. Some can
reproduce at temperatures as low as 40°F. They move
by crawling or jumping, followed by periods of rest.
Sometimes they may become a pest by their presence when very abundant, and by entering homes
through doorways, screens or other openings.
Buildings with constant high humidity may be overrun
with springtails.
Springtails are commonly found where there are
sources of moisture. Outside the home, avoid excessive layers of mulch (2–3 inch depth is recommended),
remove leaf or plant litter, reduce irrigation frequency,
prune shrubbery to improve light penetration to the
soil, and avoid dense ground covers. Check and correct
any downspouts that may be depositing water around
the house foundation and prune back plants to permit
proper air circulation next to the building walls. If outside
swimming or play pools are used, keep as far away from
the house as possible and regularly check for leaks.
Inside the home, use any means to increase ventilation and remove excessive air moisture. Use fans and/
or dehumidifiers. Regularly check and repair plumbing
leaks, and wrap and insulate pipes or air-conditioning
shafts where water may be condensing. Indoor plants
that have been set out during the summer can become
infested with springtails. Avoid over-watering potted
house plants and allow the soil to dry between watering. Use caulk to seal cracks and crevices around door
and window frames.
Control
Control with pesticides is generally not required if
moisture management is followed. Where moisture or
outside environmental conditions cannot be easily managed, perimeter treatments with residual insecticides
(granules or spray) are often used to discourage springtails from moving into a structure. These treatments are
applied as a band that start at the building foundation and
extends a foot or more into the surrounding landscape.
Be sure to select pesticides that are specifically labeled
for this purpose. Inside buildings, aerosol “creeping and
crawling” pest control materials can be used to provide
some short-term knockdown of springtail populations.
Total release aerosol (so-called bug bombs) are not
recommended because these products rarely get into
the cracks and crevices where springtails may be hiding.
This fact sheet is a revision of HYG-2070.
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