What are these tiny bugs on my fly traps?

OrganicMartian

OrganicMartian

Active Member
I have a fungus gnat problem. But recently I noticed these extremely tiny bugs on the traps close to the soil. They are so small I had to use a cheap microscope to verify they are actually bugs. What are they and are they killing my plants. The plants look fine BTW.
20210405_131200.jpg2021_04_05_13_11_17_628.jpg2021_04_05_13_11_04_753.jpg
 
OrganicMartian

OrganicMartian

Active Member
Ok, springtails shouldn't be a problem. I added predator mites a couple weeks ago but they haven't eradicated my gnats.
 
Star Dog

Star Dog

Well-Known Member
OrganicMartian said:
Ok, springtails shouldn't be a problem. I added predator mites a couple weeks ago but they haven't eradicated my gnats.
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What type of predator mites are you using?

I've been fortunate enough to dodge gnats but I thought gnat larvae lived in the soil and a drench was needed?
 
OrganicMartian

OrganicMartian

Active Member
Star Dog said:
What type of predator mites are you using?

I've been fortunate enough to dodge gnats but I thought gnat larvae lived in the soil and a drench was needed?
Click to expand...
Stratiolaelaps scimitus. Aka hypoaspis miles
I'm growing organic with Gaia green so I don't want to use any poisons or sterilize my soil
 
Star Dog

Star Dog

Well-Known Member
OrganicMartian said:
Stratiolaelaps scimitus. Aka hypoaspis miles
I'm growing organic with Gaia green so I don't want to use any poisons or sterilize my soil
Click to expand...
I've used hyposapis mites in the past, if money serves me well they live on the soil surface, gnat larvae afaik live down below the surface?

I used them for thrips with no success for the opposite reason, thrips live above them in the canopy.
 
Rozgreenburn

Rozgreenburn

Well-Known Member
OrganicMartian said:
Stratiolaelaps scimitus. Aka hypoaspis miles
I'm growing organic with Gaia green so I don't want to use any poisons or sterilize my soil
Click to expand...
Good luck, I believe that in living soil, there will always be a small degree of fungus gnats. I was told a while back that Earthworm castings hypoaspis miles naturally. I've been top dressing with EWC at transplants and my gnat problem keeps getting lesser every week. It just takes some time to ramp up. Good growing...
 
jondamon

jondamon

Well-Known Member
OrganicMartian said:
Stratiolaelaps scimitus. Aka hypoaspis miles
I'm growing organic with Gaia green so I don't want to use any poisons or sterilize my soil
Click to expand...
Mosquito dunks

gnatroll

gnatoff

captain jacks dead bug

conserv naturalyte

monteray garden insect spray.

all contain a form of bacterium that stop the larvae from feeding on your roots and are organic.

the pictures you’ve posted are fungus Gnats and springtails.
 
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