I just moved into my new home and we have springtails. how can this be? Its got a full basement unfinished too but none down there. they seem to be around the kitchen sink and mostly windows and doors at the baseboard. i’ve sprayed twice now with ortho and then the next day they’re back. your company was recommended and it looks like i need to use the granules and spray outside but I can’t find any out there. are they just crawling into my home overnight in the dark?
About 25% of our customers with springtail problems have just recently moved into their home. And most assume the springtails are coming from around the home’s exterior and then crawl in, like ants or roaches, but in most all cases the source is from the house itself.
When homes are built, it will take 6-12 months. During this time, the “innards” of the home will be exposed and so many pests will move “onto” the exposed framework (the structural beams). When these areas are covered with exterior siding and interior walls, SPRINGTAILS as well as other pests like CARPENTER ANTS, CLOVER MITES and SILVERFISH will continue to thrive. The inside of wall voids under the siding is prime for nests and once those areas are covered, you won’t see them inside until they get too populated and begin to migrate.
You see, just like any human town or city, once the local population gets too large for the area occupied, the occupants will be forced to migrate. And that could be 1 month, 1 year or 5 years after you move in. Point is at that time most will end up inside and you’ll start seeing them as you are now. And though the outside treatment detailed in our springtail article must be followed to prevent new ones from getting on the structure, the key to not seeing them inside will be to remain focused on baseboards with FS MP and then surface spraying with BITHOR.
Its interesting how most people mistakenly believe the ones they’re seeing are somehow drawn to moisture or food when in fact the only reason they’re even taking a risk of leaving their safe home is because they have no choice. Wall voids and areas around windows and doors offer some of the most ideal living spaces for many pests including springtails. But out in the open in your living space? That is not where they want to be but for them, they have no choice.
And for you, if you don’t want to see them during these migrations? The only option you have is to act aggressively toward the invasion and get them at their source. And this will often end up in wall voids and/or your homes exterior siding (if you have vinyl, aluminum, cedar shakes or stucco). More on how to properly treat a baseboard can be seen in our post on this page:
Baseboard Treatments: https://bugspray.com/best-way-to-treat-a-baseboard-for-insect-pests
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