What are these bugs?

the native

the native

Well-Known Member
They move really slowly, springtails walk over and around them, they don’t bother one another .They have always been in my worm bin.
Good or bad?


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2cent

2cent

Well-Known Member
the native said:
That’s awesome coz there’s tons of them. They seem to really love avocado shells. @2cent how you been bro?
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They love avocado you should see the little crustaceans too white dots that walk sideways like crabs lathering it where wet there awesome critters pretty sure there orbitad baby’s
I’m growing good man you? Loving my bxeb builds over hlg boards need to make some far red initiators I think though hit some 730 up there at end of lightcycle but other than that I think I’ll kill 2gpw this time

I got 2 species of spring tail too the whites and then the blacks the blacks think there lions they sit on the top of straw basking and aren’t intimidated by fingers like the white ones lol freakd me out when I saw em only in the cheese pot lol there good compost makers tho ya need to breed fungal ewc in a separate tub I found to add as they demolish fungal stuff in minutes my barley can’t even mould up with them there haha root rot will be non existent
Good call on the orbs hypoasis are slightly different same family same job with few differences but if I got them up have these too https://www.dragonfli.co.uk/products/predatory-mite-hypoaspis-miles

hypoasis will go up eat spider mites orbit will stay in the soil and take out bacteria more
fungi

Most oribatid mites feed on fungi, but some consume dead woody material or algae, and a few are predators on nematodes, rotifers, and other small invertebrates. Oribatida feed on particulate matter and, through their feeding, they help to maintain soil structure.

Stratiolaelaps scimitus (Hypoaspis miles) is primarily used for treating and controlling fungus gnat infestations, but can also be released as a control measure for root aphids, spider mites and thrips. Female S. scimitus predatory mites lay their eggs in soil where the nymphs and adults feed on pests.

various orbitads here under microscope

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McShnutz

McShnutz

Well-Known Member
2cent said:
They love avocado you should see the little crustaceans too white dots that walk sideways like crabs lathering it where wet there awesome critters pretty sure there orbitad baby’s
I’m growing good man you? Loving my bxeb builds over hlg boards need to make some far red initiators I think though hit some 730 up there at end of lightcycle but other than that I think I’ll kill 2gpw this time

I got 2 species of spring tail too the whites and then the blacks the blacks think there lions they sit on the top of straw basking and aren’t intimidated by fingers like the white ones lol freakd me out when I saw em only in the cheese pot lol there good compost makers tho ya need to breed fungal ewc in a separate tub I found to add as they demolish fungal stuff in minutes my barley can’t even mould up with them there haha root rot will be non existent
Good call on the orbs hypoasis are slightly different same family same job with few differences but if I got them up have these too https://www.dragonfli.co.uk/products/predatory-mite-hypoaspis-miles

hypoasis will go up eat spider mites orbit will stay in the soil and take out bacteria more
fungi

Most oribatid mites feed on fungi, but some consume dead woody material or algae, and a few are predators on nematodes, rotifers, and other small invertebrates. Oribatida feed on particulate matter and, through their feeding, they help to maintain soil structure.

Stratiolaelaps scimitus (Hypoaspis miles) is primarily used for treating and controlling fungus gnat infestations, but can also be released as a control measure for root aphids, spider mites and thrips. Female S. scimitus predatory mites lay their eggs in soil where the nymphs and adults feed on pests.

various orbitads here under microscope

View attachment 5124026
Click to expand...
Lol, I remember long long-time ago, when I started my first worm bin. I tossed in avocado and later that day it was completely covered in mites. I knew immediately it was a mite but assume it was bad as I knew jack shit about soil biology. Needless to say, I freaked the fuck out and harvested all the worms (around 500 as that's what I bought) and trashed the substrate. Made a new bin, new bedding, new food and sure as shit, mites again a few days later.

Now days, if I don't see orbatid mites I get concerned. Lol, wish I knew then, what I know now
 
the native

the native

Well-Known Member
2cent said:
They love avocado you should see the little crustaceans too white dots that walk sideways like crabs lathering it where wet there awesome critters pretty sure there orbitad baby’s
I’m growing good man you? Loving my bxeb builds over hlg boards need to make some far red initiators I think though hit some 730 up there at end of lightcycle but other than that I think I’ll kill 2gpw this time

I got 2 species of spring tail too the whites and then the blacks the blacks think there lions they sit on the top of straw basking and aren’t intimidated by fingers like the white ones lol freakd me out when I saw em only in the cheese pot lol there good compost makers tho ya need to breed fungal ewc in a separate tub I found to add as they demolish fungal stuff in minutes my barley can’t even mould up with them there haha root rot will be non existent
Good call on the orbs hypoasis are slightly different same family same job with few differences but if I got them up have these too https://www.dragonfli.co.uk/products/predatory-mite-hypoaspis-miles

hypoasis will go up eat spider mites orbit will stay in the soil and take out bacteria more
fungi

Most oribatid mites feed on fungi, but some consume dead woody material or algae, and a few are predators on nematodes, rotifers, and other small invertebrates. Oribatida feed on particulate matter and, through their feeding, they help to maintain soil structure.

Stratiolaelaps scimitus (Hypoaspis miles) is primarily used for treating and controlling fungus gnat infestations, but can also be released as a control measure for root aphids, spider mites and thrips. Female S. scimitus predatory mites lay their eggs in soil where the nymphs and adults feed on pests.

various orbitads here under microscope

View attachment 5124026
Click to expand...
Big thankyou @2cent , read up a lot about them now.
I don’t wanna jinx myself but, I’ve struggled a lot with thrips, and since I’ve top dressed with these worm casting this run…. No more thrips.Could also be I’ve treated the soil with Beuveria bassiana.Still early days.

Grow is good so far 1st week flower, nothing special.
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Don’t hate on me for the eggshells not been broken up better.
 
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the native

the native

Well-Known Member
McShnutz said:
Lol, I remember long long-time ago, when I started my first worm bin. I tossed in avocado and later that day it was completely covered in mites. I knew immediately it was a mite but assume it was bad as I knew jack shit about soil biology. Needless to say, I freaked the fuck out and harvested all the worms (around 500 as that's what I bought) and trashed the substrate. Made a new bin, new bedding, new food and sure as shit, mites again a few days later.

Now days, if I don't see orbatid mites I get concerned. Lol, wish I knew then, what I know now
Click to expand...
Yes @McShnutz , exact same thought process, I thought I’d ask around and read a little bit before I’d make any decisions about chucking my worm bin. I’m glad I did.
 
2cent

2cent

Well-Known Member
McShnutz said:
Lol, I remember long long-time ago, when I started my first worm bin. I tossed in avocado and later that day it was completely covered in mites. I knew immediately it was a mite but assume it was bad as I knew jack shit about soil biology. Needless to say, I freaked the fuck out and harvested all the worms (around 500 as that's what I bought) and trashed the substrate. Made a new bin, new bedding, new food and sure as shit, mites again a few days later.

Now days, if I don't see orbatid mites I get concerned. Lol, wish I knew then, what I know now
Click to expand...
Same I remeber when I saw sten nematodes all over in clusters too that freaked me out I showered hasmatted and washed all my worm bins collecting them quarenteening them lol then I find the bloody nematodes I had was beneficial and I had masses waving on top of the soil worms was happy til I did that

during that stage I found 2 worms notted inside each other I tryed to help em and separate them felt so proud saving them.
Then I find out that was bloody breeding they get inside a mucus layer and mingle …. So I have been a party pooper too dang
Poor worms haha
 
2cent

2cent

Well-Known Member
Pics just loaded that pot is like a bloody gold mine compost bin holy shit worm breed balls too
 
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