QuessadillaTom Posted June 30, 2021 Share Posted June 30, 2021 Had these lot show up yesterday, And from a brief google they look like soil mites? Can anyone confirm this? Ive got a couple of seedlings that are meant to be going to a buddies, and i want to make sure they aren't anything that will cause any issues before I give them to him. heres a link to a clip of them on youtube: https://youtu.be/lU-DYv4OstE for those who prefer not to click on links, here are some very blurry photos for reference: They are only in the soil, and don’t seem to have any interest in the plants themselves. I saw a bunch of them eating a dead worm. Can anyone tell me what these are, and if they will cause any problems? Big Love QT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratdog Posted June 30, 2021 Share Posted June 30, 2021 i all my years of growing weed and veg in compost, i have never seen that many of anything in the soil. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuessadillaTom Posted June 30, 2021 Author Share Posted June 30, 2021 2 minutes ago, ratdog said: i all my years of growing weed and veg in compost, i have never seen that many of anything in the soil. Im guessing thats not a good sign then @ratdog? any idea of what they might be? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratdog Posted June 30, 2021 Share Posted June 30, 2021 Just now, QuessadillaTom said: Im guessing thats not a good sign then @ratdog? any idea of what they might be? sorry mate, no, but that many means it's possibly an infestation unless that have just hatched and are going to move on i seriously have never seen that many bugs of the same species in the same pot, doesn't mean they are wrong un's though 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InMyPocket Posted June 30, 2021 Share Posted June 30, 2021 Almost looks like when spiders hatch 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saddam Posted June 30, 2021 Share Posted June 30, 2021 Root aphids, unless I'm mistaken. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuessadillaTom Posted June 30, 2021 Author Share Posted June 30, 2021 2 hours ago, ratdog said: sorry mate, no, but that many means it's possibly an infestation unless that have just hatched and are going to move on i seriously have never seen that many bugs of the same species in the same pot, doesn't mean they are wrong un's though Yeah man, i’ve no idea, i would say they had just hatched... subsequently ive only seen a few of them dotted around since i took that video... so id be inclined to say they had just hatched, and have since spread out that being said, the plants look happy, and whatever they are, they don't seem to want to have anything to do with the plants themselves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuessadillaTom Posted June 30, 2021 Author Share Posted June 30, 2021 Just now, Saddam said: Root aphids, unless I'm mistaken. Thank you @Saddam! I still need to try and get some better pics, borrowing a mates digital microscope tomorrow to check em out. Ive heard aphids have 8 legs and mites have only 6? Or is it the other way round? Either way ill hopefully have an answer tomorrow. Question is @Saddam are they likely to cause any issues if they are root aphids? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mort Posted June 30, 2021 Share Posted June 30, 2021 Lets hope they have left the building... ATB 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saddam Posted June 30, 2021 Share Posted June 30, 2021 Just now, QuessadillaTom said: are they likely to cause any issues Probably, they damage roots by eating into them and feed on the sap. Kill them with some tap water mixed with a bit of washing up liquid. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuessadillaTom Posted June 30, 2021 Author Share Posted June 30, 2021 had another look at some examples of root aphids and i dont think its what ive got... ill post a solid pic tomorrow n ill be able to say for sure hopefully. thanks for everyones input! either way ill be adding in some nematodes into the next few waterings 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lildaveham Posted June 30, 2021 Share Posted June 30, 2021 My question would be where did you get the soil from that you have these seedlings in? I grow in living soil and have soil mites, arthropods, predator mites and worms milling about in my soil but none of them look like that? Here is a soil mite.... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuessadillaTom Posted June 30, 2021 Author Share Posted June 30, 2021 7 minutes ago, lildaveham said: My question would be where did you get the soil from that you have these seedlings in? I grow in living soil and have soil mites, arthropods, predator mites and worms milling about in my soil but none of them look like that? Here is a soil mite.... That looks a lot more like whats in my pot than the examples of root aphids ive seen, colour and shape wise... my photos are really not very useful, ill do my best to get a solid photo with the digimicroscope tomorrow . the soil in the pots is a mix of compost from my garden (i can imagine thats where they’re probably from), some wilko coir compost mix and some worm castings that i cant remember the brand of... ill find out when im back tonight. thanks for the info @lildaveham ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saddam Posted June 30, 2021 Share Posted June 30, 2021 34 minutes ago, QuessadillaTom said: had another look at some examples of root aphids and i dont think its what ive got Try an image search for 'orange root aphids'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Military Grade Posted June 30, 2021 Share Posted June 30, 2021 Just out of interest, what soil brand was it? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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