What are these tiny bugs on my fly traps?

I have a fungus gnat problem. But recently I noticed these extremely tiny bugs on the traps close to the soil. They are so small I had to use a cheap microscope to verify they are actually bugs. What are they and are they killing my plants. The plants look fine BTW.

Gnat larvae.

Looks like thrips to me

edit: never mind lol didn’t look close enough

Although those look like they have whiskers. Springtails perhaps?

To be on the trap in them numbers I'd say springtails, move your pot or look closely at the surface of the medium and You’ll see them if it is, they have a distinct jumping ability like a flea.

Ok, springtails shouldn't be a problem. I added predator mites a couple weeks ago but they haven't eradicated my gnats.

OrganicMartian said:

Ok, springtails shouldn't be a problem. I added predator mites a couple weeks ago but they haven't eradicated my gnats.

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What type of predator mites are you using?

I've been fortunate enough to dodge gnats but I thought gnat larvae lived in the soil and a drench was needed?

Star Dog said:

What type of predator mites are you using?

I've been fortunate enough to dodge gnats but I thought gnat larvae lived in the soil and a drench was needed?

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Stratiolaelaps scimitus. Aka hypoaspis miles
I'm growing organic with Gaia green so I don't want to use any poisons or sterilize my soil

OrganicMartian said:

Stratiolaelaps scimitus. Aka hypoaspis miles
I'm growing organic with Gaia green so I don't want to use any poisons or sterilize my soil

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I've used hyposapis mites in the past, if money serves me well they live on the soil surface, gnat larvae afaik live down below the surface?

I used them for thrips with no success for the opposite reason, thrips live above them in the canopy.

OrganicMartian said:

Stratiolaelaps scimitus. Aka hypoaspis miles
I'm growing organic with Gaia green so I don't want to use any poisons or sterilize my soil

Click to expand...

Good luck, I believe that in living soil, there will always be a small degree of fungus gnats. I was told a while back that Earthworm castings hypoaspis miles naturally. I've been top dressing with EWC at transplants and my gnat problem keeps getting lesser every week. It just takes some time to ramp up. Good growing...

OrganicMartian said:

Stratiolaelaps scimitus. Aka hypoaspis miles
I'm growing organic with Gaia green so I don't want to use any poisons or sterilize my soil

Click to expand...

Mosquito dunks

gnatroll

gnatoff

captain jacks dead bug

conserv naturalyte

monteray garden insect spray.

all contain a form of bacterium that stop the larvae from feeding on your roots and are organic.

the pictures you’ve posted are fungus Gnats and springtails.