Identify TINY WORMS IN COCO Seedlings?

[inreplyavalon]

I am germinating seeds in brand new B'cuzz coco in small dixie cups. Two of them broke the serice and than seemd to stop growing. They were only a few days old. I took a close look and saw 3 worms eating the sprout just below the surface of the coco. They killed the two.

I do not know what these are and i am scared. I did lots of clones two weeks ago and they look like they may be ok, but it is the same coco used.

A description of the WORMS:

about 2mm long ( small but able to see with naked eye).
Opaque. clearish/white
look like they had a black head maybe? Or i was seeing things.

I'm scared, please help

 

[mazar_man]

They are fungus gnat larvae. Best three choices to control them are any of below:bacillus thurengiensis (bacteria) drench tradename vectobacbeneficial nematode drench - many different tradenameshypoaspis predatory mites - many different tradenamesThere are other options but these are the most effective and safest, the first two give much quicker results than the predatory mites.

 

[HeadyPete]

mazar man is correct. Technically the bacteria is Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis. Other variants work with other pests.

Fungus gnats start as larvae in the soil, then change to little black flies.

Other brands of Bti are Gnatrol, Mosquito Dunks, Aquabac ...

http://www.biconet.com/biocontrol/bti.html

Nematodes are excellent, but more expensive and not as quick due to having to order them fresh and alive. Bti has better shelf life.

100% safe for humans and pets.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacillus_thuringiensis_israelensis

 

[inreplyavalon]

Mazar thanks for helping out so fast. They gots to go. How sure are you they are f. Gnat larae? What tips you off as it seems from my searching the forums they could be one of many little pests.

I trust you enough to run out to the store right now and get some of the Bt before the store closes. Thanks again!

 

[inreplyavalon]

Hpete thanks man for the confirm. You hae helped me many a times now. Someday i plan to get you back.
Need to run to the store, my hydro guy said he would wait to close till i got there.

 

[HeadyPete]

Look like these?

 

[Weedninja]

I've had better luck with nematodes. I used Scanmask brand and they cost me about $20 US with shipping. They're supposed to last for 20 months if stored in the fridge.

 

[inreplyavalon]

Well those are them in the picture HP. The head sure helps to identify them. Are those fungus gnats HeadyP?

I just got my hands on some mosquito dunks. They look like little Samoa's(girl scout cookies). What is the application process? I got a res of food, should i stick them in the res and let them colonize? will they stay alie in a mixture of organic and chem ferts?

Thanks for the rapidness of the adie people.

weedninja thanks for the tip. I got the dunks so i'll try that but keep in mind your method. Thanks.

 

[inreplyavalon]

How much of puck?

How much of puck?

How much or many Mosquito dunks do i add per a gallon of water for a drench?

 

[HeadyPete]

Yep that's a fungus gnat. Float one dunk in the rez, it will slow release the Bti bacteria and kill those suckers quick.

Nematodes are a better solution all around. They will target and kill over 250 different pests, larvae and fungi, live happily in your media/rez as long as there is moisture and prey, and will die off when the pests are gone. They are completely safe for humans, pets, fish, etc and are even hardy enough to resist chems and pesticides.

Mosquito Dunks

Target Pests: Mosquitoes, black fly larvae



Place Mosquito Dunks in ponds or standing water and it's active ingredient, Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israaelenses called BTI kills mosquito and black fly larvae for 30 days or more. While floating they slowly release a long term biological mosquito larvacide killing the larvae before they hatch into adults. Will not effect fish, plants, people or wildlife. Alternative wetting and drying will not reduce it's effectiveness. Use one dunk per 100 sqft of water surface.

 

[inreplyavalon]

Thanks Pete. I actually clicked on the properties of the pic and it showed that those to be the gnats. All res' got half a puck. I hae only seen one actually flying gnat, and i know they are not coming from outside, cause it be cold out there!
Thanks for all the help on this one.

 

[Weedhound]

In reply,

I didn't realize this was your thread or I would have answered sooner.Just saw the word coco there and skipped it. Been battling fungus gnats myself but to be honest you are in coco so I wouldn't have known what they are anyway. Luckily lots of knowledgable people here.

My hydro man sold me some Zone and also suggested Mosquito dunks. I have done both, used the Zone (DM) as soil drench and as a root additive in my hdro res. Also sprayed with Dont Bug Me but my man said not to spray the (flowering) leaves unless I saw gnats on them; which I didn't.

Both products worked extremely well for my gnat issue. Best of luck...go get 'em!!

 

[Weedhound]

In reply asked me a question in private that I need to clarify. I was originally told to use Mosquito Dunks but didn't like the idea of them in my res........just paranoia; afraid it would change the ph or something. So I opted for his second suggestion; which was Zone.

Later I added the dunks to catch trays of my larger soil plants because I could not get to all the standing water. These plants are in BIG pots.

So I threw in some mosquito dunks.

Now, in asking someone who knows, I discover the inreply is exactly right.......the Zone will kill off the dunks. It's supposed to be one or the other.....not both mixed together as I did.

Sorry for the mis-info---

 

[inreplyavalon]

Thanks for clarifying that for all. I went with the dunks, but not sure i should have. The larvae are in my newly cut and 10 day old clones, and all the seeds i am trying to germ. So as i wait for them to die, they are eating the newly formed roots and causing casualties left and right. I have a feeling the Zone works a bit quicker. I may switch to it, and try and salvage some cuts, i am afraid most of the expensive c99 beans are done for.

 

[VirginHarvester]

What is the frequency or percentage of these worms occurring in a coco grow?

 

[Weedhound]

Yeah, I used the Zone because I wanted a drench as I said......but DM makes some strong stuff so tread lightly; I go an ml a gallon for babies but my four newest look terrific and really seem to like it. Damn gnats...they're really disgusting.

 

[HeadyPete]

The safest option for a soil drench is a product containing pyrethrin and nothing else. It is natural from the chrysanthemum plant and breaks down quickly in water to non toxic components.

This is a nerve toxin to insects and knocks them down fast. It is readily available at most garden centers as a spray under names like Green Earth and Ecosense and Safers. Make sure it doesn't contain Piperonyl Butoxide, but any fatty acid type ingredient is fine. I would dilute it with water maybe 50% and adjust ph and try it on one plant to make sure it doesn't react badly, then drench em all. That will kill them fast and safe.

http://www.google.com/cse?cx=013269018370076798483:gg7jrrhpsy4&cof=FORID:1&q=pyrethrin&sa=Search

 

[Weedhound]

That ok for brand new babies Pete? I'm using a very light zone application without issue. But would pyrethrin be better?

 

[HeadyPete]

What is the frequency or percentage of these worms occurring in a coco grow?

These gnats can fly in and infect any grow if conditions are right for them. I only had them once mildly, and they are easy to get rid of.

 

[HeadyPete]

Dutch Master ZONE is a technically advanced root zone conditioner that allows your plant to build a healthy & productive root system. Designed for Hydroponic systems, ZONE allows your plants to maximally absorb nutrients by facilitating an optimal root environment. Plants that have a healthy & productive root system can absorb maximal amounts of nutrients & water that often translates into better growth & development of your plants.

I don't see how this product will kill the gnat larvae....use the pyrethin. Dilute it down maybe 3 parts water to 1 part pyrethin to start, if you are really worried. Not sure how babies would react but larvae eating your roots can't be any better......