So far (fingers crossed), I haven't had any pests or diseases to attack my plants. Except those blasted fungus gnats. They are everywhere. At this point, I can't sit for more than a few minutes, anywhere in the house, before a gnat comes buzzing my way.
Now, whenever I buy a new plant, I have just accepted that it, too, will eventually be crawling with them. But maybe, just maybe, that won't be the case for my latest addition.
I got a new plant this week and, a few days later, saw a couple of tiny, white, spider-looking things in the medium.
Photo from Buglogical Control Systems
"Great," I thought, "I just got this thing and now I have to deal with a mite infestation."
But a quick search online soon revealed Hypoaspis Miles, a
beneficial soil mite that preys on fungus gnat larvæ. They are actually available for purchase as a beneficial bug! Perhaps the nursery where my plant was grown uses this mite to control their gnat population.
If my new plant stays gnat-free, I'll feel a bit more sure about what these little guys are. I may end up a little regretful for smashing one of them earlier!
Soil Mites That Eat Fungus Gnat Larvæ
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