Tiny Termite-Like Bug

[onlyartificiallight]

When rustled out of the planting media, they are constantly moving and quite fast for their size. They quickly find cover in the medium and seem to disappear. Anyone know what this is?
Most are milky white in color but a few have an amber tint to them.


So far the plant seems unaffected.

[Eyebabe]

I would suspect spider mites based on their size.
However, "fast movement" to me is mostly fungus gnat larva.
Mites like it dry and gnats like it wet so that may help distinguish which is more likely.

[Brotherly Monkey]

"spider mites"

in my neck of the woods we lovingly refer to the above as the borg

[got ants]

Definitely not termites. Looks like some kind of cigarette beetle/weevil, but can't really say, almost too small for that.

[RobS]

I'd say they are mites. Not all mites are harmfull to plants some are even beneficial. Especially fast moving mites are more likely to be predatory. It could even be different organisms, as in sprintails and their predator.

[onlyartificiallight]

dont mites have 8 legs though? and no antennae? im pretty sure these guys have 6 legs and antenna.
fungus gnat larvae seem to be more worm like and do not crawl around
also they are not on the plant at all, only in the soil.

[RobS]

If what I though to be front legs are antenna they are not mites as they indeed have 8 legs.

[Zdenglan]

Hmm, never seen those...on the first sight they appear like scales but if they're fast moving then that's not the case....I agree with RobS, if they're fast moving they are more likely to be predatory...however I wouldn't chance it and would try to treat the plant itself with systemic isecticide, if they are not feeding on it it won't affect them and if they are, they'll get done in... I use provado ultimate bug killer (active ingredient thiacloprid) and it has worked wonders for me.

[orchids3]

Has anything tried the biological control Biological mosquito control Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis. Its is sold as "Mosquito Dunk". I put two of the donut shaped chunks in an old sock with Corn Meal and soak it in 55 gal of water for a week - then pump a shot into each pot. Not only does it control mosquitos but seems to kill any of the crawling stuff I used to see in pots.

[Eyebabe]

Originally Posted by orchids3

Has anything tried the biological control Biological mosquito control Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis. Its is sold as "Mosquito Dunk". I put two of the donut shaped chunks in an old sock with Corn Meal and soak it in 55 gal of water for a week - then pump a shot into each pot. Not only does it control mosquitos but seems to kill any of the crawling stuff I used to see in pots.

This will also kill fungus gnat larva.