- Joined
- Apr 2, 2012
- Messages
- 496
Hey y'all
I have a small springtail enterprise at my house. I keep my 'tails on sifted potting soil, and occasionally get nematodes in with them. They are housed in 8oz delis with zero ventilation. Any delis with 'todes get put on a separate shelf until they're gone. Seems the 'tails out-eat them very easily.
Today, while going through the colonies, one deli had zero springtail nymphs inside. There were adults jumping around, and a healthy number of them. I wasn't worried at first because the youngest are so tiny that I can only see them if they're clustered together. I took a second look and noticed little brownish-red mite looking bugs in with the 'tails. They are about 1/4 the size of a full grown springtail.
After looking up a description of Hypoaspis miles, my mites seem to match. Though with millions of different mite species, I can't really be sure.
I have this deli wrapped in a plastic bag, as it looks like they can pass through the seam between deli cup and lid. Don't want them infecting anything else in case they are worse then H. miles.
Reason for inquiring: I have an explosion of fungus gnats at my house, and sticky traps are all that help to keep them in check. They smell awful and look just as bad. If I did happen to contract a random population of H. miles, has anyone here successfully kept them for future mite/gnat outbreaks?
I can get pictures soon, as I have a USB microscope, but that won't be for a day or two at least. Until then, speculate!
I have a small springtail enterprise at my house. I keep my 'tails on sifted potting soil, and occasionally get nematodes in with them. They are housed in 8oz delis with zero ventilation. Any delis with 'todes get put on a separate shelf until they're gone. Seems the 'tails out-eat them very easily.
Today, while going through the colonies, one deli had zero springtail nymphs inside. There were adults jumping around, and a healthy number of them. I wasn't worried at first because the youngest are so tiny that I can only see them if they're clustered together. I took a second look and noticed little brownish-red mite looking bugs in with the 'tails. They are about 1/4 the size of a full grown springtail.
After looking up a description of Hypoaspis miles, my mites seem to match. Though with millions of different mite species, I can't really be sure.
I have this deli wrapped in a plastic bag, as it looks like they can pass through the seam between deli cup and lid. Don't want them infecting anything else in case they are worse then H. miles.
Reason for inquiring: I have an explosion of fungus gnats at my house, and sticky traps are all that help to keep them in check. They smell awful and look just as bad. If I did happen to contract a random population of H. miles, has anyone here successfully kept them for future mite/gnat outbreaks?
I can get pictures soon, as I have a USB microscope, but that won't be for a day or two at least. Until then, speculate!