Teeny weeny little itty bitty white bugs?

[butterfly_muse]

Good morning, all! I was watering my guys today, and when I inspected one of my phals I noticed two tiny tiny tiny white bugs (I am surprised I actually saw them) crawling around on the stem and a leaf....what are these? Are they harmful? What should I do? They were too small to even attempt to get a picture of. Like size of human hair small.

I have noticed my plants have been looking like they are getting bites taken out of them, and two of them have recently lost leaves. Upon inspecting them this morning a lot of my roots have dried out, which I think is why the leaves are all gross, but that doesn't explain the munches being taken out of them.

I have been spraying them with some neem oil to try to eradicate whatever it is...but I'm kind of at a point now where I'm not sure if I'm helping or harming the plants.

Any advice would be great!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Unfortunately, the description, "tiny white bugs" can be just about anything.

There are a large variety of insects and other types of arthropods, that it's just very difficult to pinpoint without a photo.

And do understand, that I get it. Creatures this small are difficult to catch on a camera without the use of special, (and expensive), macro lenses.

My only guesses are either whiteflies, or possibly springtails.

Here is an article about whiteflies with photos:

Whitefly Control

I doubt they could be springtails, because springtails usually stay in the substrate where it is nice and dark and very moist.

Here is an article about springtails with photos:

Springtails : Insects : University of Minnesota Extension

These guys would be the first arthropods that come to mind when you're describing them as being "tiny white bugs". If they are not these creatures, then I don't really know what to say other than the fact they could possibly be immature mealy bugs.

Here is an article with photos about mealybugs:

Mealybugs

[Discus]

that tiny? possibly springtails - near the potting mix, or waaay up on the plant?
Springtails normally indicate it's time to repot!

---------- Post added at 04:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:59 PM ----------

another tiny bug is thrips, but I don't think I've heard them being described as whitish. Whitefly are pretty big (I had *clouds* of them on my balcony once).

[butterfly_muse]

They were itty bitty almost to the point of being unable to be seen. I just happened to be looking. They were near the base of the plant by the mix, I think. They didn't fly, just crawled, so I don't think they're white flies. Also the article King linked said there would be a lot of them and there wasn't a giant cloud or flurry of them, just these two that seemed pretty pissed I had dunked my potting medium in some water, lol.

I am going through and repotting the guys today, they have not responded well to my new house and a lot of roots have died and are decaying, which may be why those guys are there. =(

[Leafmite]

If they live in the soil and crawl, could they be fungus gnat larva?
Sorry to hear your plants are not transitioning well. I hope you will soon see success!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Here is an article with photos about a few common garden pests, and that includes thrips:

Identify your indoor garden pests

The physical difference between a thrip and a springtail is that springtails don't have wings, and thrips do.

Springtails are generally harmless.

Thrips do massive amounts of damage.

[Discus]

mealybug don't really move though.

---------- Post added at 04:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:05 PM ----------

dunking your pot could well cause them (springtails) to seek shelter somewhere less flooded!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by butterfly_muse

They were itty bitty almost to the point of being unable to be seen. I just happened to be looking. They were near the base of the plant by the mix, I think. They didn't fly, just crawled, so I don't think they're white flies. Also the article King linked said there would be a lot of them and there wasn't a giant cloud or flurry of them, just these two that seemed pretty pissed I had dunked my potting medium in some water, lol.

I am going through and repotting the guys today, they have not responded well to my new house and a lot of roots have died and are decaying, which may be why those guys are there. =(

May be springtails. It sounds like them. Springtails can be very numerous in really damp places with lots of decaying matter, but in pots, there usually aren't that many.

[butterfly_muse]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

May be springtails. It sounds like them. Springtails can be very numerous in really damp places with lots of decaying matter, but in pots, there usually aren't that many.

It's either them or thrips. I don't know what the sap they are supposed to leave behind looks like? But I have had bits of my plants look like the sap is being sucked out of their leaves and the leaves have turned yellow in those places. =\ If it was thrips, how would I get rid of them?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

This article might help you identify the damage:

Thrips Management Guidelines--UC IPM

It offers a bit of help with the control too, but it doesn't really look like there's much they're offering.