I need help identifying this pest!!!

So these are the best pics I could get...

the lip of the bowl in pics is about 1/8'', pics taken on macro, 2x zoom, with a 7 MP camera...

The brown spec is pest in question... It's the largest I've seen, smaller ones are white...

These are only running around in my soil... I thought they were spider mites, but they are not on the plant/leaves at all, strictly a soil pest...

any ideas/advice greatly apprecitated...

If you need more info just let me know...

Grow is 5 flowering plants in week 4 under a 400w HPS in FFOF soil...

looks like root aphids in my opinion............i personally would use azamax or diatomaceous earth in this scenario........my first choice would be sprinkling diatomaceous earth in the top portion of the soil

kush groove said:

looks like root aphids in my opinion............i personally would use azamax or diatomaceous earth in this scenario........my first choice would be sprinkling diatomaceous earth in the top portion of the soil

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Thank you... I've been using neem oil and was wondering about the diatomaceous earth.. I'm gonna have to pick up some in the morning...

What kind of damage can root aphids cause?...

I was going to say it looks like an aphid but never knew there were root aphids. I googled it and it definitly looks like the pest you have there. I've learned so much on this site in just the past few months...another good thread!

kmksrh21 said:

Thank you... I've been using neem oil and was wondering about the diatomaceous earth.. I'm gonna have to pick up some in the morning...

What kind of damage can root aphids cause?...

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they suck juices from the roots which can obviously do damage to the plant over a period of time.....i had huge issues with root aphids when doing hydro so i know all about them

direwolf71 said:

I was going to say it looks like an aphid but never knew there were root aphids. I googled it and it definitly looks like the pest you have there. I've learned so much on this site in just the past few months...another good thread!

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I never heard of them either, this sucks, I have a good thing goin', hope I can get it under control...

kush groove said:

they suck juices from the roots which can obviously do damage to the plant over a period of time.....i had huge issues with root aphids when doing hydro so i know all about them

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Awesome! You're totally saving my crop right now!?

Do you think neem oil and diatomaceous earth will do the trick???

no matter what it is, no mercy, you must be exterminate. they must all die..

kmksrh21 said:

Awesome! You're totally saving my crop right now!?

Do you think neem oil and diatomaceous earth will do the trick???

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without a doubt

frenchee said:

no matter what it is, no mercy, you must be exterminate. they must all die..

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I agree!

The plan is to find quickest most effective way to kill ( without harming buds of course )

Just need to bee 100 percent on what the lil' fuckers are...

kush groove said:

without a doubt

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Thank you sir!

Can't wait to kill these fuckers!!

Also, if root aphids are left untreated long enough; they can grow wings. Their soft bodied shell will turn from clearish yellow to black, they will sprout wings and fly around in your room and look to mate and start the whole process over again. Fuck all the pesticides. Google beneficial nematodes (don't get beneficial and predatory confused either, because predatory nematodes can destroy a garden just as much as beneficial nematodes can help). they are harmless to humans and harmless to plants. I just had a bout with root aphids in my hydro too. those little fuckers. If you get from a company called scanmask they have beneficial nematodes that you can use as a drench or a spray. basically you soak the amount you need in a bucket of water. Pour the water in your resevoir or in your dirt and watch how the nematodes destroy those fuckers. Seriously the find any crease or crevice and eat the fuckers from the inside out. These fuckin bugs torture us why not torture them.