Mite ID

[Dronefreak]

Can anyone ID this mite? They are very small and appear to have long hairs on them. I run rockwool (Capn Style) and they are in my roots and on the pots. None on the stems or leaves. Thanks![URL=https://s1058.photobucket.com/user/Dronefreak/media/IMG_20180315_225049_zpsdwrf2kbc.jpg.html] [/URL]

 

[Dronefreak]

Photobucket sucks!!!!!

 

[Mikell]

Yes it does. Vimeo is worse.

Doesn't look like a classic pest. Any plant damage or symptom?

 

[Dronefreak]

Mikell,

Yes I am seeing some issues at week 6 of flower. Plants have noticeably less bud mass than previous runs of the same genetics which is what led me to look at the roots for pests.

I had an entomologist identify the mite as Tyrophagus (mould mite) and said it is NOT a plant pest.

I would have to disagree as I can definitely see a reduction in yield.

They are only in my flowering plants...nothing in veg room. Yet

 

[Mikell]

Shot in the dark, but perhaps similar to fungus gnats? Re: the pathogen is effecting the plant and the insect is along for a meal ticket.

How severe is the infestation?

Forgot to mention. Props for one of the best ID pictures I've seen.

 

[Dronefreak]

Doubt it regarding the pathogen/insect scenario.

I run sterile and do not overfeed/overwater and would be able to see mold or fungus under the microscope if it was there.

Just these bastards....nothing else.

At this point I would consider them opportunistic....in that they probably would go for something other than my roots for a food source if it was there.

Full sterilization of this room after this run and I will be treating my veg plants just to be sure they are gone.

Thanks for the help

 

[Mikell]

Attempt at help. Be interested to read any results or discoveries down the road.

 

[metsäkana]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhizoglyphus

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarsonemidae

hairbutts some might eat weak plant roots or compost falling leafs and do just little damage to seedlings or weak plants like bulb mite for my exprience

 

[Maple_Flail]

I'm no expert by any means, The ONLY time i've run into something like that is at a pizza place.. Looks like a Flour mite to me. however i'm no expert. I did exercise my google fu, and it tells me that Flour mites and Mould mites are related? unsure if i interpreted correctly.

Hope this helps

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flour_mite

It also occurs to me that the source of this pest might be unexpected.. visit any sketchy pizza places in the last month or so?

 

[Dronefreak]

As stated previously they were identified as Tyrophagus by an entomologist......Tyrophagus putrescentiae to be exact.

I have found numerous articles implicating them in greenhouse damage... which is consistent with what I'm seeing.

After this run is complete they will be GONE via CLO2, ozone and Pylon.

 

[metsäkana]

hypoaspis miles/aculeifer i think eats them aculeifer eats deeper but miles i think is more active

i had this kind hairbutters

also dry soil kills them i think

if they cant suck moisture from roots or fallen leafs

those that i had attacked small seeds and plants but big ones they did notthing what i see .. mostly i saw them eating fallen leafs in groups after the plants were strong i did not see under soil so good im not 100% if they sucked the roots also