Unidentified critter. I'm hoping it's just soil mites!

Hollatchaboy

Hollatchaboy

Well-Known Member
They're astigmata mites. I don't believe they are harmful but I'm not sure. Plus there's just a shit ton of them. That can't be good.
 
D

DaFreak

Well-Known Member
looks like classic soil mites to me. To be honest, you don't need to see bugs to tell what they are, you look at the damage on the leafs. With that many bugs, if they were the bad mites you would see tiny little round spots all over the leafs from where they sucked them dry, if you don't see that then they are soil mites. Also, if you have an I-phone hit the side button 3 times to get into magnify mode and just look at them. Rip off a leaf, put the phone on a dixie up to stabilize it and check the undersides if you want. But I can't really be sure with those pics, maybe you could ask them for some photo-ids and a DNA test.
 
Hollatchaboy

Hollatchaboy

Well-Known Member
DaFreak said:
looks like classic soil mites to me. To be honest, you don't need to see bugs to tell what they are, you look at the damage on the leafs. With that many bugs, if they were the bad mites you would see tiny little round spots all over the leafs from where they sucked them dry, if you don't see that then they are soil mites. Also, if you have an I-phone hit the side button 3 times to get into magnify mode and just look at them. Rip off a leaf, put the phone on a dixie up to stabilize it and check the undersides if you want. But I can't really be sure with those pics, maybe you could ask them for some photo-ids and a DNA test.
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Damn, why didn't I think of that! Lol
 
Hollatchaboy

Hollatchaboy

Well-Known Member
jondamon said:
Look like Mould mites

View attachment 4953198
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I agree. In the camera I could see the bugs better than the pics turned out. They have like 2-4 hairs coming out from the ass end that I thought were legs at first but they didn't move. After seeing some pics, I realized they were hairs. Do you know if they're harmful to a living plant? I mean I don't see anything that makes me think they're doing anything to the plant above ground, but the don't eat at the roots do they?
 
PadawanWarrior

PadawanWarrior

Well-Known Member
I'd say they're beneficial mites. They might be feeding on thrips and fungus gnat larva. They could be soil mites too that feed on fungi and stuff.

If a population of thrips of gnats grows so will their numbers. Same with the soil mites.

It's probably just because you're keeping the soil nice and moist so it's really alive now.
 
Hollatchaboy

Hollatchaboy

Well-Known Member
PadawanWarrior said:
I'd say they're beneficial mites. They might be feeding on thrips and fungus gnat larva. They could be soil mites too that feed on fungi and stuff.

If a population of thrips of gnats grows so will their numbers. Same with the soil mites.

It's probably just because you're keeping the soil nice and moist so it's really alive now.
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Well, I noticed because I transplanted a clone from a buddy, with used soil I had in a tote that I added craft blend, ewc, leaves, straw, worms and worm food(oatmeal I think). There's still roots in it not broken down yet also. Anyways, I put the soil in the pot, and I noticed them crawling on the outside of the pot. I'm guessing I shouldn't have done that. Lol
 
PadawanWarrior

PadawanWarrior

Well-Known Member
Hollatchaboy said:
Well, I noticed because I transplanted a clone from a buddy, with used soil I had in a tote that I added craft blend, ewc, leaves, straw, worms and worm food(oatmeal I think). There's still roots in it not broken down yet also. Anyways, I put the soil in the pot, and I noticed them crawling on the outside of the pot. I'm guessing I shouldn't have done that. Lol
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Do they stay around the rim of the pots? And do they come out more when you water?
 
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