Who are the nails and how can they be destroyed?

Nail tails are insects that can cause some harm to your indoor plants. But at the same time they can meet not only in flower pots, but also in other corners of the apartment. Preferring dampness, these parasites settle down in the bathroom, and if there is an aquarium in the house, then they will get along well under its cover and their accumulations will be constantly observed on the surface of the water. How to get rid of these small bugs in each case? Let's find out.

Characteristic

The size of the body of the nailstail is extremely small and ranges from 0.2 - 10 mm. Moreover, the last indicator can be observed only in a few species. These insects prefer to settle in places with high humidity and, as a rule, hide in small crevices. In the wild, they live in the upper layers of the soil, under fallen leaves and between stones, where the main food for them is mosses, lichens, mycelium of fungi and bacteria.

Nailtails, they are foolsstart in residential premises. Representatives of these species settle in close proximity to the main source of food - the leaves of higher plants and a waterlogged substrate.

These insects got their name thanks to the jumping fork, which is located in the lower part of the abdomen. If there is no need for movement, this body is inactive, but at the same time always in a state of complete readiness. And when the jump is completed, it is released, hits the surface and the nailstail flies up and slightly forward.

As for the color, it can be different for fools. There are white nails, as well as brown, gray and yellow, some may have integuments with a metallic sheen, transverse stripes, marbled and dotted patterns. In this case, individuals with a white color live mainly in the soil and almost never come to the surface. They do not have a jumping fork, therefore they move exclusively on their short legs, which when viewed from above often remain invisible.

Houseplant Protection

In the substrate in which houseplants are grown, white-tailed, gray, greenish, brown and with a metallic sheen are most often found.

If the nails are found in the soil of indoor plants, then this indicates that the substrate is too wet. When there are few insects, they will not cause much harm, but with a large accumulation they can damage the underground part of the shoot or the root system.

Prevention

So that the nailstail does not cause the death of your favorite orchids and other indoor plants, you should first of all try to make the correct watering. If insects have already been detected, then the substrate needs to be slightly dried, and then water it sparingly. When the colony of parasites is numerous, it is advisable to transplant the plant into new soil and provide good drainage, which will prevent stagnation of water.

On a note! If you are going to plant streptocarpuses and senpolis, then the substrate should be pre-steamed and only then sown seeds in it. In this case, it is necessary to choose a sealed container that will make the soil completely inaccessible to the nails. This is especially important with low seed germination.

Extermination measures

The fight against nailstail becomes necessary when their numbers are quite large and at the same time they have already begun to destroy plants. In this case, you can offer several options.

• Apply one of the systemic insecticides. These include Aktara, Aktellik, Confidor, Fufanon and Mospilan.
• Reduce watering and simultaneously sprinkle the soil surface with a centimeter layer of wood ash.
  

  Important! For plants that prefer acidic soils, this method is not suitable!

• Use mustard powder, which must be scattered in the same way as the wood zone - with a 1 cm layer.
• Cut the potatoes into two halves and lay them sliced ​​down on the ground. After a while, the podura will stick to the cut, after which you will only have to throw away the used halves.

Aquarium protection

If you notice small insects on the surface of the water in the aquarium, be sure - these are tails. They can also sit on walls or under a glass cover, and when moving make sharp jumping movements. They are attracted to the aquarium by the same increased humidity and dampness, which are the most optimal conditions for their life.

Often, green growths on the walls, which are formed due to the rapid increase in humidity, are attracted to the aquarium. And that, in turn, occurs during the operation of the sprayer, when small droplets of water fall on the walls and cover. It is they that contribute to the rapid formation of an organic layer.

On a note! The last is a source of food for nails, so they rush into the aquarium for saturation!

It is quite easy to get rid of the nails in this situation: since organic growths are very attractive for these insects, it is enough to thoroughly wash the aquarium, removing the food source. And for prevention, this procedure should be performed regularly.

Bathroom

If the nailstail has settled in the bathroom, then measures to combat it can be as follows:

• First of all, try to reduce the humidity in the room, and if you succeed, then with a high degree of probability the insects themselves will leave it or die and there’s no need to do anything else.
• Using an ordinary fan, increase the flow of fresh air - this will eliminate dampness.
• In places where there is increased humidity, you should remove the mold and fungus that the columbola feeds on.
• Ensure that all pipes and other possible sources of water leakage are repaired. The most common cause of a springtail in the bathroom is leaky pipes.
• Before using chemical insecticides, try using natural ones, such as a soap solution. To prepare it in a bottle with a spray, you should combine a small portion of soap (a tablespoon) and water (half a liter), after which treat with the obtained liquid all the areas on which the colleges have been noticed.

On a note! Nailtails are very small, so just sweeping them with a broom from the bathroom will not work. The best option is a soap solution!

In general, getting rid of the nails in the apartment is not so difficult. It is enough to provide good ventilation in all rooms, close up cracks in window frames and door frames, and also monitor the tightness of window sills. These simple measures will not allow moisture to penetrate into your home, and, accordingly, protect it from fools.

If you live in a private house, then in this case, constantly monitor its wooden parts and replace damaged wood in time.And cracking will help prevent a waterproof finish. If you find springtails, purchase a special insecticide that is used to treat the exterior walls and use it in the pest's areas of residence.

Advice! The processing of the external walls and the adjacent area is best done in the afternoon, it can be done in the evening, but only before dusk, when the nails are still quite active!

Thus, you can eliminate the source of the spread of infection. Similar drugs can be used for prevention, creating an external barrier that will destroy insects trying to get inside the house.