Springtails

Garden Problems , Home Pest Problems

Springtails are tiny insects found in the soil. They can cause damage to garden plant seedlings including brassicas.

Identify the problem
Springtails are tiny (1 mm) brown to black insects found in the soil around the roots of some plants. They never grow wings. Some species are elongate and some have quite spherical bodies. They are named springtails because they have a tail that can act as a spring and make them jump in a flea like manner. In moist conditions development can be rapid. A population explosion can cause severe damage to plants and on occasions the insects migrate onto paths and even indoors.
How to solve the problem
- Populations will usually stabilise and springtails do not often cause damage. However, their numbers when populations explode can cause some consternation.
- Around bedding and ornamental plants, if control is required, apply LawnPro Protect and water in.
- Around brassicas and other vegetables drench with Organic Insect Control. Repeat at 3 day intervals until control is achieved. Best applied late in the day.
- Indoors - if springtails are moving indoors they will usually die within a few days but you can help prevent and control them by spraying with NO Spiders Total Protection around exteriors and indoors where the springtails are found.
Did you know?
- Springtails form the largest of the three lineages of modern hexapods that are no longer considered insects
- Springtails are in the Subclass Collembola