WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS IS?

[samizook]

I found these little white things that look like small mealy bugs. They are in the medium in both of my spider plants. Both plants are doing very well and have nothing on the leaves. When I rub them between my fingers, they feel kind of hard and do not squish. They are about the size of a "fine" ball point pen tip. I tried to get close- ups, but this is the best that my camera will allow.Thanks.

[kiki-do]

I have no idea. Looks like little eggs of some sort. I want to bump this back to the top to see if anyone else can help ID them. I doubt they are mealy bugs, though.
Anyone else know?????

[samizook]

fungus gnat eggs? takes 8 days to develop. I haven't found any pics yet other than larvae.

[Ross]

If you bought this plant in this condition it could be slow-release fertilizer pellets.

[samizook]

Originally Posted by Ross

If you bought this plant in this condition it could be slow-release fertilizer pellets.

This was a division from my mothers plant 2 years ago. I divided it last year about this time and did not notice them. We've had what we thought were fruit flies from time to time but i'm wondering if they are the fungus gnats i'm reading about. Same thing perhaps

[Lagoon]

I'm thinking the same as Ross. If your worried, take them out and put them in some sorta conatiner and see if they hatch.

[moogiemama]

I think maybe it's a perlite or some type of soil additive to keep it loose. If that's the case, it is inert and nothing to worry about. An organic problem would squish between your fingers which is why I think it's just potting medium.

[SheilaJ]

My initial thought was perlite or fertilizer too. If you suspect fungus gnats (which look almost identical to fruit flies, but they are not the same insect), cut a small piece of potato, lay it down on top of the soil, and check underneath in a day or two to see if there are larvae there.

[dave b]

Per the OSU Entomology Dept, here is the description of Fungus Gnat eggs:

Eggs are hardly visible, oval, smooth, shiny white and semi-transparent.

My first guess from your photo is some kind of fungus/mold. In the first pic, the clump is on a piece of wood / bark, and appears to have a bit of webbing between the spheres. Its not uncommon at all to find all kinds of interesting fungi and molds in potting mediums.

[Leisurely]

I think it is something called poly beads which is an additive to potting soil mix to make it lighter. The beads look just like some kind of insect eggs.