Springtails
Scientific group or name: Collembola
Overview
Springtails are tiny soil-dwelling arthropods associated with damp organic material. Most feed on fungi and decaying matter and are harmless, but very high populations can graze soft roots, seedlings or tender tissue.
Host plants
Moist composts, propagation areas, protected crops and houseplants.
Identification
They are usually white, grey or dark-bodied and often jump when disturbed using a forked appendage beneath the abdomen.
Damage and symptoms
Most sightings do not indicate plant damage. Where numbers are extremely high, grazing may occur on germinating seed, fine roots or tissue close to the compost surface.
Lifecycle and favourable conditions
Persistently wet compost, algae, decaying organic material and poor drainage favour population growth.
Monitoring
Check damp benches, pots and growing-media surfaces. Distinguish springtails from sciarid larvae, mites and other small compost organisms.
Management
Correct overwatering, improve drainage and airflow, remove algae and decaying material and allow the surface to dry appropriately between irrigations.
Biological control and natural enemies
Soil predatory mites and rove beetles may consume springtails but treatment is rarely justified unless plant damage has been confirmed.
Biological control should be selected only after the pest has been identified and the crop, temperature, growing environment and pest pressure have been considered.
Related BioWiki pages
This page provides general integrated pest-management information. Identification and control decisions should be confirmed for the crop and local situation.