Tiny little bugs on Catt

[jocierk]

I found this little guy while I was watering today. It (and lots of its friends) are on a big Catt. The orchid is growing like a weed so it doesn't seem to be hurting it but I would still like to get rid of them. Does anyone know what it is? Sorry the pic is a little blurry…they are TINY. That stick its on is about 3/16th of an inch wide. I had to use a macro lens to even see them. I did some research but can't figure out what they are. Any suggestions on what I should do? Thanks guys!

[bil]

It's a long time since I did entomology. Might be a commensal. In pots with bark etc breaking down, I would expect a few detrivores and it wouldn't bother me unless someone could positively identify it as something harmful.

[campchi]

Bump

[WhiteRabbit]

I can't tell from the pic ... springtails, maybe?

[bil]

Next time you are repotting an orchid, spread some of the broken down bark on a while surface and go over it witha magnifying glass. I am willing to bet that most pots will harbour a variety of arthropods helping to break down the bark, and in the process adding fertiliser to the mix.

They only bugs you need to worry about are those that consume living plant material.

Since that orchid is growing like a weed, I would be very inclined to leave them alone. In your shoes, I'd check other pots, extract a small sample and see if they are elsewhere. If they aren't, I'd pick one that wasn't doing so well and innoculate it with them. Plants live in the wild with a lot of small arthropods etc that do no harm, and may do a lot of good.

[Kailyn]

he kinda looks like a termite to me but I really don't know, never seen one in person. usually a homemade soap/water/rubbing alcohol solution will work on any soft bodied critter.. its what i used for aphids and had never hurt an orchid. look online for the exact ratio

[Bill U.]

This could possibly be a fungus gnat, a relative to the white-fly. They are normally found when you have detritus (dead plant material) breaking down. This could be an indicator that your bark is starting to break down a bit and possibly an indicator of being a little on the damp side more often than not. Since you say it is growing well, I would be inclined to say that you are just starting to have media breaking down.

Something to do to get rid of them if you want is to water with a 1:1 hydrogen peroxide to water mix to help eliminate them, if you so desire. The hydrogen peroxide will not harm your plant in any way.

[NYCorchidman]

Springtail. nothing to worry about.
They eat decaying plant matter, so they don't do harm to your live plants.

[bil]

It certainly isn't the larvae of fungus gnat. Their larvae look like maggots. Certainly isn't a termite either. we have them here so I know what they look like.
I think that NYCorchidman is right.

Springtail Pest Control Info - Empire Pest Control

I certainly wouldn't bother to kill them Here's what the site says about them.
"To avoid dehydration, springtails live in areas where there is a lot of moisture and high humidity. Springtails eat mold, algae and fungi that they find in these areas."

Like I say, I really wouldn't kill them, in fact, I'd consider innoculating pots with them. Anything that eats mold and fungus has got to be a good idea.

Remember, a sterile environment can support less growth than one with a vigorous micro ecology.

[jocierk]

You guys are amazing! Thanks so much. I wasn't super worried cause the plant has been growing well and it clearly wasn't one of the known problem bugs. That catt was due for a repot anyway (I'ts been trying to crawl out of the pot for quite some time) so i went ahead and did that and gave it new bark. Im sure that won't be the last of my orchids I see those on as the others potted in bark start to degrade so its good to know they are not causing any damage.