What bug did I just see in the soil???

There's been no obvious visible evidence of insect damage. And then.... just after a watering, dozens of these bugs surface and start crawling around the top of the soil before they all eventually go back down into the dirt. They were small, but easy enough to see with the naked eye. They had black heads and tail (area), and a copper/tan mid-section. They only surfaced for a few minutes after the watering, and then they all went back down. WTF???

Maybe Fungas Gnat Larva?

peace ~

ImaFarmer said:

Maybe Fungas Gnat Larva?

peace ~

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I guess that's possible, but these things looked bigger than larvae, and seemed to be fully formed critters.

pic of bug

add 3 drops of dishwashing liquid into your water. and let the soil dry almost completely then repeat.

Diabolical666 said:

pic of bug

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Wish i had one, but they surfaced for just a few minutes after a watering, and then they all went right back underground. I've been searching online with no success.
And, sure, i've been using dishwashing liquid (Dr Bronners Peppermint) as a preventive, but they're here anyway. I just wish I knew what they were. Never seen bugs like these before.

I'm just throwing this out there... but if they surface when you water...

Water them again a little and grab one...

Snap a pic.

Did it look like this?

Or was it more like this?

Here's what you do. Grab a can of non-toxic hairspray. Grab a lighter.

Water your plant and wait for them to surface.

Blow torch the shit out of them.

Infestation eliminated.

jerichojews said:

Wish i had one, but they surfaced for just a few minutes after a watering, and then they all went right back underground. I've been searching online with no success.
And, sure, i've been using dishwashing liquid (Dr Bronners Peppermint) as a preventive, but they're here anyway. I just wish I knew what they were. Never seen bugs like these before.

Click to expand...

Grab some of the soil and sift threw it, you'll find one

OK. I took a few pictures, and ended up discovering a couple other creatures. I'd be leaning towards tossing the whole thing, but it's a few weeks into flower and somehow still looks relatively healthy.
Anyway, this is the first bug that has the brown and black markings:

And then I saw a couple of these things as well:


And, in addition to those 2 things, there were also tons of what look like tiny white inchworms.

Did you get that soil out of the backyard?

TheYokel said:

Did you get that soil out of the backyard?

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It's an amended mix. I suspect the Ocean Forest is the culprit though. Any thoughts as to what those things are?

Diabolical666 said:

Diatomaceous Earth

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... works only when dry. But these things only seem to surface when i water.

I've never used FFOF... but I've used Happy Frog exclusively for a while now, and I've never *knocks on wood* seen creatures in my soil. Ever. Not saying it isn't your soil though. Go check your bag and see if you see anything in there.

No idea on what they are. Again, never seen those. Does your hydro store keep their soil outside?

That is odd, to have 3 different species of critters in your soil. It really might be coming from the soil. Try Happy Frog, I have never had a problem with it.

Its gnat larvae. you can water with Neem if you have it on hand. not sure what the brown guys are. Diatomaceous Earth will get rid of all it. I hope those orange things on your stem arnt scale...

TheYokel said:

No idea on what they are. Again, never seen those. Does your hydro store keep their soil outside?

That is odd, to have 3 different species of critters in your soil. It really might be coming from the soil. Try Happy Frog, I have never had a problem with it.

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I think these soils were kept indoors. I also have more soil from the same batch that's been cooking. Except for the fungus gnat larvae, nobody can identify what these other 2 things are???

This is why I tell people to use the dirt out of the bag...

https://www.rollitup.org/t/nutrients-for-noobs-making-it-through-your-first-grow.850705/

Root maggot? I dunno dude... "white inchworm things"... taking a shot in the dark.