This bug is on all my orchids!
 

Hello,

It is monsoon season where I live and grow most of my plants in s/h. Today, while watering my plants, I noticed a tiny tiny bug, not more than 2mm in size running around the roots of my Phalaenopsis.

I found the same bug crawling around one of my tolumnia's rotting roots.
I also noticed some webbing on the roots. I managed to take it out and click some pictures.

What is this insect? Will it damage my orchids? If yes, how do I get rid of it?

Thanks for your advice.

I'm certainly no expert and hopefully someone else can give a better answer, especially if I am way off base!

From the pictures, it almost looks like a tardigrade, or water bear, which would make sense in S/H. Usually they are microscopic, but a few species might be visible to the naked eye.

If it is a tardigrade, then you probably don't have to worry about it too much but may want to flush them out of your media... Some do suck plant juices and some eat other micro-organisms.

Hope this helps!

Here's a link- how your mystery creature moves compared to these guys might help in IDing it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHsVyb_VfeA . Note that the ones in the video are only visible with a microscope.

It looks similar to a ladybird (ladybug) larva, but I have no idea of Indian species.

That was what I thought it was when I first saw it! Water bear wow that is a first...

---------- Post added at 01:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:41 PM ----------

I know little to nothing about water bears but I would like to know what "microscope" are you using??? Can you post a link? that is some nice resolution there...Sorry I can't be more helpful with your issue BTW. Good luck finding the info you are looking for!

I am actually using a DSLR, Nikon D7000 with 50mm 1.8 lens coupled with a couple of macro filters. :)

It looks like a larval stage of some sort of beetle.

Could it harm the plants?

I know precious little about the habits of most beetles that live where I do, and even less about the ones that live where you do! Doubtless it's possible that it's feeding on your plants. But the beetle larva that it most reminds me of is a ladybug, and their larvae are so voracious at eating aphids that an industry has arisen where people raise the bugs and sell them to gardeners for insect control. You need a definite id! Are you on Facebook? There are plenty of entomology forums frequented by experts and interested amateurs from around the world. Post pics on a few, tell them where you live, and you'll likely get your answer, which you can verify yourself with a bit of online research once you have names to work with.

---------- Post added at 06:24 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:21 AM ----------

Maybe, maybe not. They could even be beneficial. They instantly reminded me of ladybug larvae, which are voracious predators of small critters like aphids. But I know nothing about the insects where you live. Are you on Facebook? Post pics in an entomology group and say where you live and you'll get names you can research yourself.

I'm no expert--but still have an opinion, so watch out! It looks to me like an instar of some sort of insect, but not a ladybug. It can be difficult to ID from an immature stage, if possible see if you can somehow isolate a few and raise them to the adult stage. You then might have more success in getting a positive ID. Do you have any agricultural resources, such as the Cooperative Extension in the U.S., or a nearby University with some interest in entomology? There are also many online bug ID sites, Bugguide.net is very helpful in North America, and can sometimes be helpful for other areas. Your pictures are very nicely done!

Is there a university near you? Often an entomologist at the local university can be very helpful.