We’re often asked how to best address an ongoing problem with springtails nesting around pool decks and coming up from under artificial grass (aka: astro turf). These surfaces placed around a home present a unique challenge when it comes to certain pests. This happens because reaching the ground under these solid surfaces is paramount if you want to get rid of ground nesting insects like SPRINGTAILS or CLOVER MITES.
So first, it’s important to understand a very critical difference between treating for something like springtails/clovermites compared to most any other pest.
To illustrate the difference, check the picture to the right. As you can see, the dirt in this yard has been covered by a range of non-porous bricks and pavers. It also has artificial turf.
Now imagine the yard in the picture has active ants. And imagine they are nesting under the stone decking or artificial turf. In this example, we know they are nesting there because they are trailing to and from the bricks and are easy to track.
With pests like ants, you’ll be able to see where they’ve extracted dirt and piled to the side. You’ll also be able to find entrances to their nests. These spaces will have hoards of ants moving in both directions. Some are leaving looking for food; others are bringing food back to share with members of their colony. This might be happening in the morning, during the day, maybe at night or with some species, they could be active all night and day.
The point is if this yard had an ant issue, it would be easy to notice AND easy to treat. This is because ANTS MUST LEAVE THEIR NESTS to FORAGE for FOOD and THEY WILL RETURN!
Well guess what? Pests like SPRINGTAILS and CLOVER MITES DO NOT HAVE TO LEAVE THEIR NEST FOR FOOD!!
Ants will feed on food like other dead insects, pet food, honey dew from plants, pollen, human food, etc. Basically anything they can find in the yard.
But Springtails and Clovermites are very different. They feed on algae, mold and other microorganisms that thrive in dirt and on the bottom of substrates like cement, rocks and artificial turf.
So why is this important? Because treatments that work above ground for pests like ants WILL NOT WORK FOR SPRINGTAILS or CLOVER MITES.
And the main reason why is because emerging springtails and clover mites DO NOT INTEND ON RETURNING TO THEIR NESTS!
That’s right. Unlike ants and most ground dwelling pests, springtails and clovermites will leave their home but for different reasons.
So what are they doing?
Well with springtails, when you see them out in the open, they are most likely reproducing. They like to do this when it’s dark because they are super vulnerable to predators. So to find out just how bad of a problem you have, inspect a few hours after the sun sets.
Another reason they might come out can happen after excessive rain. Too much water may lead to drowning issues and so seeking higher ground is often what leads them onto your home’s siding.
Another “trigger” will happen when populations get super big under the decking. Swelling populations need to expand and so the first step of this process is send out males. They initiate migrations as explained in our Springtail Invasion post..
Well if they won’t be returning to their nests, traditional surface treatments designed to be “brought back to the nest” WILL NOT WORK!
So how can you get rid of the ones living under the pavers, bricks and artificial turf?
The short answer is that you’ll need to treat under the pavers, bricks and artificial turf using MAXXTHOR EC and BOOST. This can be done using our SLAB INJECTOR through small holes you drill OR by lifting the bricks and pavers up to reach the soil underneath for a more direct application.
Now will this involve a lot of work? Probably. But if your goal is to eliminate them from the yard, then you’ll need to make the soil they’re using uninhabitable.
Lifting the bricks and pavers up and treating under them is pretty self explanatory. Alternatively, drilling holes and treating them is covered in great detail in our CEMENT SLAB TREATMENTS article.
The good news is that once you have enough chemical in place, treatments will last several years so you don’t have to keep treating on a regular basis.
On a side note, the old adage “out of sight out of mind” applies here. And our advice is to not fall victim to this truth. In other words, just because you don’t see springtails for a month or two, they’ll be back as long as the soil under all these pavers and bricks isn’t treated.
Leave a Reply