bugs in the soil

[NLX]

Hi there,

Today I was trying to get rid of my gnat fly infestation (not that bad though). There are some in my grow box. Then I was doing 1 new seedling in a new air-pot. As I finished repotting, I saw 2 transparent/white bugs in the soil. I don't know if it's mites or aphids or symphilids. I just saw them once in one of my 12 plants' soil. I do not know what it is, it looks rather aphidy/mity than magotty/gnatty. It's very small and has small members, but not like 1000.

So I thought that I might react quickly and made a nice neem oil soup and drenched the pots with the solution. Additionally I sprayed some neem solution in pulverized form onto the plants (which are still seedlings btw) and made some vinegar traps for the gnat flies.

Could it be that these bugs were gnat fly offspring?
Did I react properly with the neem oil soup?
Do you know some additional measures to take?

Thank you very much for your time and help.

NLX

PS: These bastards already killed one Ata Tundra seedling from below/the roots I think.
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[bobbypyn]

no dude. you just killed off your beneficial soil mites. you lost that other one due to some other factor.

 

[Leothwyn]

Probably not gnat larva - they definitely look like little maggots. White w/ a dark head.
I've had soil lice before... they look a bit more like mites or something. They're whitish, small, but longer/narrower than mites. And they move faster than mites. Anyway, they're harmless (or even good). Google for images and see it that's it.

 

[NLX]

kk, thanks for your opinions. They rather look like these soil lice than maggots. they are smaller than maggots and have tinier body but are a bit longer than aphids. They definately were not mites because they have a rather logitudinal form than a mite like roudish form, + they are a bit bigger than mites.

It was really not possible to make a picture because they only occurred for that first time there. I was a shock reaction as I had only one female out of 10 seeds last time. So I wanted to make sure I get rid of the flies' offspring (which also eats the roots) and potential other pests I may have seen as I realized that this could be the reason for the loss of my Ata Tundra seedling.

Peace!

 

[Muffy]

Sprinkle some diatomaceous earth all on the surface and keep it dry as you can. It's a common find at hardware stores. Yeah and it's silica so if you water it into the soil your plants get stronger.

 

[Leothwyn]

Sounds like soil lice. They're not going to hurt anything. They eat decaying matter, and clean up your soil.

 

[NLX]

silica absorbs water ain't it?
Could one make a good soil mix out of 70% soil,20% perlite and 10% diatomaceous earth?

I must admit, the soil I used for the plant in which pot it occured, is crap. it's very compact and draining very slowly. If you add up the air pot, it's a real pain in the ass to water it by hand.

Thanks for the tip with the diatomite and soil lice hint.

NLX

EDIT: I found 1kg of diatomaceous earth on ebay for 8€, but it's a food supplement for dogs. it's got: diatomaceous earth, yeast, malt germs, carbonated algal limestone. Is that the right stuff?

 

[grokillaz]

Sprinkle some diatomaceous earth all on the surface and keep it dry as you can. It's a common find at hardware stores. Yeah and it's silica so if you water it into the soil your plants get stronger.

Hands down the best shit I have ever used to combat pests. I havnt seen any bugs in a long time. In the past I've had problems with mites, fungus gnats, aphids and the worste were thrips. The DE stuff is gold!

 

[Leothwyn]

EDIT: I found 1kg of diatomaceous earth on ebay for 8€, but it's a food supplement for dogs. it's got: diatomaceous earth, yeast, malt germs, carbonated algal limestone. Is that the right stuff?

I don't think that's right. Just check a nursery for DE.

 

[Muffy]

That actually sounds good for an organic mix.

 

[NLX]

I don't think that's right. Just check a nursery for DE.

hmmm... you think it's not suitable because of yeast and malt germs?

I was at 2 hardware stores and did not find it. I guess I gotta check in a drug store but it will be expensive as shit there.

 

[Leothwyn]

Yeah because of those. I don't know... maybe they're good for plants, or maybe they'll get all mushy and start molding. I've never heard of the plant version having anything like that.

 

[2michael7]

well have you tried baking the dirt in the oven on for about 350 to 400 temp that will kill every thing living in the dirt it will