I Have Gnats in the Pool

Keep your pool clean and free from springtails by managing the pests.

If you find a large quantity of little gnats floating on the surface of your swimming pool, you are not alone. These insects are not actually gnats but are a tiny, wingless insect called a springtail. Up close, the springtail resembles a flea. Springtails live in damp areas of your yard and consume decaying organic matter. Occasionally, these pests jump into your pool and drown. Springtail control is fairly straightforward and clears the problem up quickly.

Cleaning up the Area

Clear away any potted plants around your swimming pool. Springtails love hiding out in these plants and living in their soil. You do not have to get rid of your plants, simply relocate them to an area away from the pool. Dig up and remove any mulch in the areas surrounding your pool. Mulch is a decaying organic material, which is exactly what springtails love to eat and live near. Dispose of the mulch to treat and prevent springtail infestations. Dispose of or relocate any leafy, lush plants growing around the pool area as springtails often create nests in these plants.

Pest Control

Spray the area with insecticides of your choice. Depending on your specific needs, you may choose a product safe for use around kids or pets, safe for garden plants (in case there are some you simply cannot move), environmentally friendly or all natural. Choose a product labeled specifically for springtail control. Insecticidal soap sprays are effective in elimination of springtails. You may also choose to forego insecticides altogether and introduce mites into your yard. Mites eat the springtails and control their populations without the use of chemicals.

Cleaning the Pool

Run your pool filter continuously until the springtail infestation is under control. Empty pool filter baskets regularly during this period. Use a pool skimming net to remove springtails from the surface of the pool water. If possible, dispose of the skimmed springtails in soapy water. While most springtails on the surface are drowned, some may still be alive, and placing these into soapy water prevents them from recovering and continuing the infestation. And run a pool vacuum to remove any springtails that may have settled on the pool floor after drowning.

Added Control Methods

Once plants and mulch have been removed, your pool landscape may look bare and unattractive. Replace organic mulches with inorganic mulches such as rocks and plastic or rubber mulches that do not harbor springtails. Ensure the drainage in the soil around the pool area is good as overly moist soil will always attract springtail infestations. Don't use the pool lights or landscape lights around the pool at night as doing so only attracts springtails to the area and encourages further infestations.

References

• University of Florida Extension: Springtails; P. G. Koehler, F. M. Oi and M. L. Aparicio; 2009
• University of California: Pests in Gardens and Landscapes; Ed Perry; July, 2007