If you are seeing tiny jumping insects in your Georgia home, you may be tempted to think they are fleas. But, if those tiny jumping insects aren’t biting anyone, you may be dealing with a little critter called a springtail. Springtails are fascinating bugs that are less than a half a millimeter in length. That is about the size of the period (at the bottom of the exclamation point) at the end of this sentence!

Here are several other facts you may find interesting about springtails.

• In one square yard of soil, there may be more than 10,000 springtails!
• Springtails, as their name suggests, are very good jumpers. A springtail has a unique feature on its tail, a tiny, two-pronged lever beneath its abdomen that allows it to spring a full six inches into the air. That is the equivalent of a human being jumping over the Eiffel Tower!
• These bugs must keep moist at all times, as drying out is fatal to them. They come equipped with a special grooming dispenser that has fluid inside it that they spread over their bodies to keep moist. They also have two inflatable tubes which help them get at all those hard-to-reach places.
• If a springtail jumps and happens to land upside down, they use their grooming fluid dispenser to stick on the ground so they can get themselves back upright.
• Most of the time these creatures live in the soil, but sometimes they move into homes. They are commonly found under landscape timbers, paving stones, and wood piles. If they are inside, it is because they have found a nice moist area and, once established, they will begin to reproduce.

What can you do if you have discovered springtails in your home?

Although springtails do not bite, sting, or cause damage to belongings it can be distressing for you to see thousands of them jumping around in one area. So it is important to know how to get rid of them. If they are in your home, chances are you have a dampness problem, since they require a lot of moisture to survive. Here are a few things that may get rid of springtails:

• Clean out gutters and downspouts.
• Trim back bushes or trees that are against your house creating damp areas.
• Create a bare zone around your home that is dry and free of leaves.
• Use a waterproofing compound for your basement walls.
• Look for the cause of dampness in your home and remove the moisture. Fix leaky pipes, remove damp items, and dry out wet areas with fans or dehumidifiers.
• Contact a professional pest-control company.

At Active Pest Control we offer FREE inspections from friendly, experienced pest experts who will be able to identify all pest activity and recommend an appropriate course of action. Whether you have a springtail invasion, or any other household pest, Active Pest Control can help. No matter how fascinating pests may be, they do not belong in your home. Get help today.