tt-153 BY DON MEEHAN

SPRINGTAIL CLUSTERING CAUSES CONCERN

One of the natural phenomenon that many of our Island residents have been experiencing this winter has been the clusters of tiny bugs called springtails found outdoors. They are generally described as being in huge piles the color of purple and gray. When approached they will spring or jump out of the way. Needless to say, those who have contacted our office about this problem have been quite concerned that these creatures may be posing a threat to their house, yard, or family members. There is also the fear that the pest cluster may increase in size and become a more serious problem in the near future. My advice to these people has been to dispel the fears about the hazard that these creatures pose. As a general rule springtails found outdoors pose no threat to humans or houses. There has been some information which leads us to believe that they can create a problem for plants in special conditions. Let's spend a moment trying to understand how these primitive insects fit into our world. Springtails, or snow fleas as they are sometimes called, occur in most every climatic condition around the world. They get their name from their ability to catapult themselves up to four inches. This is achieved my means of a tail-like mechanism which they tuck under their abdomen. As soon as any danger is sensed the mechanism releases and springs them away from the danger. Springtails require high levels of moisture, preferring to live in highly humid sites. They are found in great numbers in the soil. They can also be found in great numbers under boards and other debris which provide a damp environment. Entomologists have not come up with a clear reason as to why we see piles of them during rainy periods of the year. Some speculation focuses on the possibility that they have clustered to mate and that moisture conditions are a factor for this. Another thought suggests it takes place due to large accumulations in the soil depths near the piles found on the surface. The presence of heavy rain causes them to float to the surface and hence accumulate there. Springtails, of the type we are encountering, are not considered a pest. They are actually a beneficial insect helping to reduce or convert decaying vegetable matter in the soil to more useful forms. They frequently feed on fungi, molds, mildews, and algae as well. Interestingly, they are one of the few organisms in our world known to break down DDT in the soil. Fortunately that food source is not being provided any longer. What can you expect if you have a pile of springtails nearby your house? First, don't be alarmed. They will probably disappear in a matter of days. They have been known to stay clustered for over a week however, so plan to have a bit of patience. If they are up against your home you might want to consider sweeping them away from the house to prevent them from entering through the cracks in the doors and windows. Should some of them enter your home they will generally dry up and vanish in a very short time. Remember, they do require a great deal of moisture to survive. If some of them should find a suitable survival site in your house it will be a result of a moisture build up within the home. That is something you would want to correct anyway to prevent structural pests like moisture ants and carpenter ants from becoming a problem. There is a chemical solution should you not have the patience. I do not recommend it, but will provide it to you upon request. We do have a publication available on springtails which we will make available to anyone upon request. It costs a quarter and is called "Springtails". Don Meehan is on the faculty at Washington State University working in Island County as a County Extension Agent. He is located at the Coupeville WSU Extension Education Center. The phone number is 679-7327.




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