Hello! Question treating for springtails on this deck. No access to the ground below except between boards. I sprayed w Maxxthor, but they came right back after it dried. Planning to spray at night so it stays wet longer but we keep getting rain. Any advice is much appreciated!
Thank you-Kristie
My treatments are working wonderful so far everywhere else. I’ve never noticed them on the deck and never attempted to treat or spray last year or this year.
TECH SUPPORT: Great question! And for sure there will be several “challenges” as you attempt to reach them where it will matter the most.
So first, with the deck so close to the ground, they will be loving the shade, moisture and hidden space underneath. And this area would most likely be very important to get properly treated and so heavily will be essential if you want them gone.
Unfortunately we can’t think of any easy option other than to remove some of the planks to get underneath to properly treat OR if you can remove some of the rocks from the sides, maybe there will be enough of a space available so you can spray into the area with success? Either method would work assuming you can saturate the ground under the decking as well as every joint of the deck. And of course, the bottom of all the decking.
Springtails love wood to nest on as they recycle it. And where wood joins in the construction of the deck, they will most likely be wanting to nest so be sure to treat above the decking too so it will “seep” down into the areas they are likely using to nest.
So for us, that space including the ground underneath it along with every bottom of the decking needs to be sprayed. And not just once. We would expect 1-2 gallons applied there daily, in the evening an hour or two before dusk, would have the best impact. And if they’re back the next day, then you’ll need to spray again. So essentially doing this as quickly as they come back until you aren’t seeing them would be needed. And if they are still emerging after 2 weeks of treatments? Then you’ll need to POWER INJECT every place the planks are resting on the joists underneath.
Now onto some other “challenges”..
Those rocks? They need to be sprayed heavy. And then a day later, move them around to see if any have springtails underneath and if you find them? Spray again.
Now onto the pavers… Same thing. In fact every “gap” between the pavers needs to be sprayed and if you’re lucky, it will permeate below the pavers because its highly likely they are nesting under some of these. And if you don’t directly treat them, they will keep foraging out at night within one day of being sprayed.
Now onto the patio slab of cement… Like the pavers, springtails are most likely living underneath it. This piece of cement is small enough to where just treating the edges around it might percolate down under it enough to have an impact so you won’t have to drill it out as detailed here:
But for us, under the cement patio slab, under the pavers, under the deck and under the rocks are all prime springtail nest sites and they all need to be properly treated. Remember, springtails will attempt to nest everywhere except the open areas with direct light. So the dank, dark moist areas under your deck? All prime nesting grounds.
Lastly, don’t forget to treat the AC unit, its platform and all around it. These areas tend to support big springtail populations and if you don’t get the surface sprayed with the Maxxthor, its highly likely they’ll be thriving there and getting into the home along this back section of the home, most likely by the sliding doors.
One closing thought; Maxxthor will work as a contact killer when first applied. But like all insecticides, once it dries that quick kill is gone and thereafter, it will take 2-3 days for affected pests to die. So if you want the ones you’re seeing dead, you’ll need to treat as often as they’re coming back.
And we strongly suggest adding BOOST to the Maxxthor so you get extra penetration to the wood and ground below.
And here’s a link to the Boost:
And something else that will probably really help is to get our MAXXTHOR GRANULES spread underneath. They will release slowly and all that rain you mentioned would certainly work to your advantage with this product over the liquid spraying.
And for any late morning or middle of the day activity? Use the Power Injector with Maxxthor to kill any you find active in between liquid treatments AND to treat the nearby gaps. Any springtail you see is living very close (within 2-3 feet) of where you see them.
Migrating springtails are actually in the act of mating and that process involves the males moving out from nests to leave sperm for females. Females then venture out, find the deposits and use them in new areas to start new nests. This behavior allows for them to spread. Now with your decking, it’s not likely they’ll find new areas to migrate to up high unless they get on the home so for sure, the topside needs to be sprayed to stop the spread. Springtails are mostly nocturnal so going out to inspect at say 11PM to midnight could be helpful.
Tech Support
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