Help! bugs in my dirt!

papa canna

papa canna

Well-Known Member
Metasynth said:
Google it, and read. That's what I did when I had them.
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im looking for all the info I can find but maybe im not googling the right words. The only thing I found of relevance to identifying spider mites vs the other is the another thread on RUI posted last year. a thread in which you chimed in on.
 
DemonTrich

DemonTrich

Well-Known Member
hyposasis mites like said above

FFOF has been putting them in their bags due to issues of fruit fly problems.

I found my 1st HM about a year ago and I freaked the fvck out.

lift your pot from its tray, youll see a few white speck moving on the bottom of the black pot. let them be, they'll help ya out by eating other bad bugs.
 
papa canna

papa canna

Well-Known Member
I understand that realistically they aren't likely to harm my plants, it just creeps me the fuck out that i had bugs in my shit for almost a month now, and had no idea.

But because I did notice them I suppose theres a small possibility theres just a shitload of baby rootaphids waiting to tear my girls a new one. We will see.
 
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DemonTrich

DemonTrich

Well-Known Member
im quite sure you've had them longer than a month.

neem oil or mosquito dunks might help with the r/a issue.
 
Blueback

Blueback

Member
There fine leave em b. Much worse craters to worrie about then them. All rooms have some type of bugs in them. Just goes with the territory. No spiders or mold and your good.
 
papa canna

papa canna

Well-Known Member
Blueback said:
There fine leave em b. Much worse craters to worrie about then them. All rooms have some type of bugs in them. Just goes with the territory. No spiders or mold and your good.
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as long as that is what they are then not a big deal. just concerned I may have a boatload of root aphids
 
Guy2HIGH

Guy2HIGH

Active Member
If they were root aphids, you most likely wouldn't see them until it's too late to save the plant. Be glad they're not root aphids!

They look like Hypoaspis mites to me as well. As said previously, Hypoaspis mites are included in FFOF as a means to control the young larvae of soil-born insects, such as thrips, springtails, fungus gnats and root mealybugs. When there are no insects to consume, the mites will feed on plant debris and algae, causing NO harm to the host plant. Hypoaspis mites only live in the top 1/2 inch or so of the medium. Any medium treated with lime or pesticides should NOT be used if you plan on innoculating the medium with these predatory mites... they will die.

There is one thing about the introduction of Hypoaspis mites in professional made mediums (such as FFOF) that most people don't realize. Another species of mites may be added as a food source for the predatory Hypoaspis mite to feed on. To check for either of these mites a 10-15X magnification will be needed to see them well enough to determine what they are. Predator mites are tan and move quickly, compared to the food source mites, which are white or translucent and move slowly.
 
papa canna

papa canna

Well-Known Member
Guy2HIGH said:
If they were root aphids, you most likely wouldn't see them until it's too late to save the plant. Be glad they're not root aphids!

They look like Hypoaspis mites to me as well. As said previously, Hypoaspis mites are included in FFOF as a means to control the young larvae of soil-born insects, such as thrips, springtails, fungus gnats and root mealybugs. When there are no insects to consume, the mites will feed on plant debris and algae, causing NO harm to the host plant. Hypoaspis mites only live in the top 1/2 inch or so of the medium. Any medium treated with lime or pesticides should NOT be used if you plan on innoculating the medium with these predatory mites... they will die.

There is one thing about the introduction of Hypoaspis mites in professional made mediums (such as FFOF) that most people don't realize. Another species of mites may be added as a food source for the predatory Hypoaspis mite to feed on. To check for either of these mites a 10-15X magnification will be needed to see them well enough to determine what they are. Predator mites are tan and move quickly, compared to the food source mites, which are white or translucent and move slowly.
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stupid question, but do you know where a person might be able to get one of those magnifiers? similar to a little eye scope you see at the jewelers? I've never seen them at a store. My phone goes up to 8x and they look quite white, but i'll get a better magnifier to check.
 
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