Help! Bugs in my containers!

16 years ago

I noticed today while out checking on my containers that a few of them have these tiny orange aphid or mite like bugs crawling around...they even jump!

I just spent an hour on the internet trying to identify this bug but cannot figure out what it is.

Have any of you had something similar? What should I do?

Thanks for your help.

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Comments (19)

tiffy_z5_6_can
16 years ago
I haven't had something similar, only the occasional potato bug or slug crawling in uninvited.

Are they actually doing any damage to the sprouts? I'm queasy about using anything on the sprouts when they are so young, but you might try using an organic pesticide and just spraying it in one container to see if it would affect the sprouts and kill the pests. I would do it in a containers of sprouts that would not be a concern to me if they lived or died.

I'm wondering if they came from the soil you used?
rlindaromero
Original Author
16 years ago
The sprouts so far look undamaged. Like you said I'm also a little scared of spraying the tiny seedlings right now.

I just wish I knew what they were! But I guess I'm going to do what you suggested and try spraying in just one or two containers and go from there.
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turquoise
16 years ago
I don't know if they're the same, but when I have little bugs on my seedlings hydrogen peroxide does the trick. Dilute in water, I think it's 1 part hydrogen peroxide to 4 parts water, then pour on the soil.
vera_eastern_wa
16 years ago
I spent a few hours yesterday trying to figure out what your pest was. Aphids don't hop and the mite description had be boggled. It kinda reminds me of the tiny hopping, fast crawling mite type things I see in the sandy/gravelly soil I have in the yard. I've never seen any damage..some types of mites and thrips are actually beneficials in the garden. Sixspotted Thrips are predators of spider mites and the pest Western Flower Thrips for example and are tiny yellowish and oval; often released in greenhouses. What I don't know is whether they hop in the nymph stage...adults fly. I wonder if these came in the bag of potting soil?
vera_eastern_wa
16 years ago
...opps forgot to give you a link to pics. Do you have a 10x magnifying hand lens? I have one just for plant pests that I had to get for school....it works pretty well.

Vera

Here is a link that might be useful: Six Spotted Thrips
rlindaromero
Original Author
16 years ago
Hi Vera thank you so much for your help! I've spent hours trying to figure out what this little bug is but with no luck.

I don't have a 10x magnifying lens but I did take pictures earlier today to share with you. I should have done this from the beginning! oops. But I have yet to find anything like this while searching the internet.

Let me know what you think and again thank you for taking the time to help. :)

{{gwi:380545}}
philmont_709n2
16 years ago
I have these too! I don't know what they are either!
tiffy_z5_6_can
16 years ago
Looks like a nymph of something. Ugh!
vera_eastern_wa
16 years ago
Great close ups!

I give up...I hope you don't mind that I send those pics on to my former pest management instructor? She looks at these all day long lol! These are the nymphs of something and if you haven't seen any kind of adults around then they came with the potting soil. Are they only seen on the soil surface? I was thinking possibly some species of springtail nymphs. We shall see. Might not get an answer until tomorrow or Tuesday morning. Hang on!

Vera
carrie630
16 years ago
... (he's kinda cute)...

Carrie
agirlsgirl
16 years ago
I was thinking the same thing Carrie...lol....
rlindaromero
Original Author
16 years ago
Vera

I definitely do not mind!

So far from what I can tell they are on the surface only. I have very few plants in my yard and so far I don't see any of these mystery bugs around them.

Thanks again for your help.
terrene
16 years ago
Rlinda, you could post those great pictures over at the Insects forum, and I bet they would be able to ID them for you quickly.

They might not be a threat to the seedlings, and I would be very cautious with sprays until you have identified the bugs.
tansy_moon
16 years ago
It will be interesting to find out what they are. They are sort of cute. I've come to believe that even the best bagged soils can carry insects.

I've had good luck getting rid of bugs with a buttermilk application on my plants. I would try it on anything. It looks very messy looking, but won't harm the plants and washes off on its own.

I am making slug traps this morning! They have eaten my marigolds and are starting on my kale!
vera_eastern_wa
16 years ago
I knew it!! I should have trusted my judgment!
You have Globular Springtail nymphs.

She sent me this website with AWESOME pics...I completely forgot about the site ((((duh))). Scroll down to the 3rd row of pictures and you'll see you cutie bug.

Springtails are common in moist potting soils. They feed on decomposing materials and sometimes on seedlings.
Copy and paste this link for more info:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IG124
The clickable link below are spectacular pictures!!

Here is a link that might be useful: Globular Springtail
threeorangeboys
16 years ago
Go Vera Go! Great pictures. They are, I will admit too, kinda cute.
agirlsgirl
16 years ago
They remind me of something from Miss Spider's Sunny Patch! I hope they are kind to you and are happy with the decomposing stuff and leave your babies alone!
rlindaromero
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you so much Vera! I just read about these little guys and now I'm just going to cross my fingers and hope they don't kill my seedlings. Hopefully they'll just eat what's in the dirt.

I'm glad you guys enjoyed the close ups. LOL! :D
vera_eastern_wa
16 years ago
I had a good instructor :)

Just glad I could help,

Vera