Bug ID

[Naindejardin]

Does anyone have an idea what these are? I believe mite, but what kind and are they detrimental? Had to have come in the soil.

 

[Naindejardin]

Otherwise the plants seem healthy

 

[Growenhaft]

they are predatory mites. probably a tribe of Amblyseius.
they are benign to plants. feed on spider mites and thrips.

 

[exploziv]

Wow, seems like you got a free and lucky addition to the garden!

 

[troutman]

I have some predatory mites coming soon and they are Stratiolaelaps scimitus (aka Hypoaspis miles).

This is a video of what they look like. See if yours look like them. If so, they are good guys.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zp-kP2HqyIs

 

[Naindejardin]

Thanks for the help everyone! I can stop freaking out now.

 

[Naindejardin]

troutman great video, that’s exactly what they look like!

 

[troutman]

troutman great video, that’s exactly what they look like!

Great.

 

[flylowgethigh]

I think they are also called "worm bin mites". I got a some worms, and the soil I put them in is crawling with little red mites that move fast like those.

If you look at my 2nd grow diary, I think the tailed seeds were damaged by them, but I am not sure. They were in the soil. The plants that survived are OK now.

I am gonna get some different starting soil and use that in the dixie cups, then put a started seedling into the mite infested soil when up-potting, just to be sure.

 

[mexcurandero420]

A little bit of cinnamon powder over the soil is cheaper.

 

[Naindejardin]

I could sprinkle some cinnamon, and some neem meal I guess wouldn’t hurt. Do you think that cinnamon would affect the soil microbes I use Tribus and MammothP (and dipped the roots in Great White)? If they’re actually beneficial mites then I’m not gonna mess with em.

 

[Naindejardin]

I have some DE too I could use but it’s not good grade and I’d rather not kill other things.