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Vegetable Gardening

Little Flee-like bugs in my soil

15 years ago

I went to water and move my containers this morning and the three I was tending to all have little flee-like bugs in the soil. Everytime I go to pick at one it goes back under the soil. They look like they're jumping. Apparently the infestation is throughout the container as the water pans (?) beneath them were crawling with them, too.

Now, I have two other containers that are COMPLETELY infested with squash bugs and pickleworms which is the main reason I was moving the as of yet unaffected ones. Could these be little squash bugs just waiting to grow? How can I kill them? Soap solution or Sevin don't seem to work as they just burrow back under the soil.

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Comments (4)

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
15 years ago
Sounds like springtails, but without seeing them it will be difficult to tell for certain. For the most part, springtails feed on organic matter, are are fairly common in peat-based potting soils.

If they bother you, try sprinkling some horticultural diatomaceous earth on the surface of the containers.
ribbit32004
Original Author
15 years ago
I'd take pictures, but they're so darn tiny that you can't even grab them not to mention make them sit still.

I just googled them and you've got it. That's exactly what they are. THANK YOU!!!

I think you've calmed my fears...just so long as they won't bother my vegies they can stay. UH, they won't bother my vegies will they?
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There are spring tails and thousands of species of soil mites and I have seen both in my potted plants in the past. Most of these types of critters feed on decaying organic matter but I can't help but think that an over abundance of them could be bad for a plants root system. I would use an insecticidal soap solution and water the plant well with it, should take care of the problem. I will also spray a neem oil solution on the surface of the soil after I water if there are any bugs present. Repotting might be a good idea if the plant has not been doing well and it will give you a chance to take a look at the roots. Mike
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NEVER...i mean..NEVER ... kill anything until you find some actual damage to a plant ... you can not eradicate mother nature... and garden in a sterile environment ... and this is a great example of such ... eradication becomes an alternative.. when a population explodes .. and causes harm ... prior to that.. its a free show of nature.. enjoy observing.. and learning.. but dont jump to cure.. until necessary ... ken
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There have been quite a few posts in various forums regarding the appearance of clover mites on the scene. They are rather famous for crawling on the sides of houses and even making their way inside. Why don't you see if you can discourage them with plain water from the hose?
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I bought a Norfolk Island Pine as a Christmas tree, and after the holidays repotted it and have kept it as houseplant. Shortly after repotting I noticed some beige-green caterpillar-like bugs crawling around in the top soil! I removed the ones I could see/find, put the plant outside for a few days and didn't notice any returning so I brought it back inside. Shortly after that, the same bugs returned. I went to a local garden store and was told that the most likely cause of the problem was unsterilized soil used for repotting (although I think I'd repotted other plants at the same time using the same bag of soil and haven't noticed any bugs in them), so I bought a bag of sterilized soil and repotted the tree. During repotting, I didn't see any bugs (I'd removed the ones visible on the top soil beforehand). This was a few months ago now and since that time I hadn't noticed any bugs. I was away for about 3 weeks, during which time a friend was watering my plants (she said she didn't notice any bugs during that time, but she also wasn't looking). Now that I'm back, I've removed about 15 dead bugs and one live one. Any ideas as to what these bugs are and what I should do to get rid of them once and for all? Any help would be much appreciated!
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lilacs_of_may
15 years ago
It's also possible they might be flea beetles, which are very tiny beetles that jump around like fleas. If your veggies have what looks like pepper shot damage, then it's likely flea beetles. I spray with either Pyola or Spinosad, and that seems to help. I usually have to respray at some point, but that's no big deal.
ribbit32004
Original Author
15 years ago
Leaves on all pots with the tiny jumping bugs are perfect and healty. These guys seem to only stick to the soil and don't walk on the plant itself.

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