White bug found on seedling...

I found these in pics on a solo cup seedling. I unfortunately didn’t see them until now.
Any advice is appreciated!

Medium is Promix with some worm castings

Would rather not spray anything crazy and if possible get some kind of beneficial predator.

I’m not a bug expert but I remember a time when I took a clone in and it had predator mites called hypoaspis miles, looks like that in my opinion. If that’s what it is they are harmless but I don’t like bugs in my grows at all so it freaked me out lol

Looks like it could be a beneficial soil mite like he mentioned. There’s so many though. Look up hypoaspis miles and mold mites.

Jeeyah said:

Looks like it could be a beneficial soil mite like he mentioned. There’s so many though. Look up hypoaspis miles and mold mites.

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My guess would be the latter. Mould mites. Especially if they have long hairs on their bodies.

However though there is also a soil mite that looks similar that can effect plants and that is BULB MITES.


Identification is key!!!

Usually in small numbers I would hazard a guess and say hypoaspis miles,

In large numbers I would suggest Mould mites.

I would have to guess a mould mite after further review.
They are white, move quickly, and in groups like shown on google. After pulling up the tap root on a seedling (that was growing slow) to see them eating at the root. I’d have to think they aren’t beneficial.
I’ll have to check to see if there’s any hair but I don’t remember seeing any.

If it helps any they are only in with the seedlings seems like this mite doesn’t want anything to do with the older plants or at least not yet.

How you guys go about stopping this problem?

StayHungry said:

I would have to guess a mould mite after further review.
They are white, move quickly, and in groups like shown on google. After pulling up the tap root on a seedling (that was growing slow) to see them eating at the root. I’d have to think they aren’t beneficial.
I’ll have to check to see if there’s any hair but I don’t remember seeing any.

If it helps any they are only in with the seedlings seems like this mite doesn’t want anything to do with the older plants or at least not yet.

How you guys go about stopping this problem?

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IME mould mites don’t effect plants.

Bulb mites do.

Mould mites and bulb mites look very different under magnification.


Mould mites are attracted to mould and fungi/decay in your medium.

Bulb mites are bastards!!

Bulb mites have a more tan colour at the front of their bodies and head.

Mould mites are more white/clear with long hairs.

Is there some sort of predator for bulb mites?
I will update this post once the lights kick on with better pics.
I was also thinking bulb mites but was hoping for the lesser of the two evils

StayHungry said:

Is there some sort of predator for bulb mites?
I will update this post once the lights kick on with better pics.
I was also thinking bulb mites but was hoping for the lesser of the two evils

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Cosmolaelaps claviger

AVID apprently helps to control them slightly as a drench!

And also HYPOASPIS varieties feed on bulb mites.


And lastly beneficial nemetodes.


Unfortunately bulb mites are quick resilient little fuckers and most pesticides don’t work on them.

seems like these bugs probably came in your bag of soil I would assume, I’ve read theories about companies putting predator mites in their soil to prevent fungus gnats and things like that. I believe the bugs you have are likely feeding on your organic matter in the soil based on how small your seedlings are and how populated they are coming straight out of a fresh bag of soil with no plants/roots to feed on. I would bet they are predator mites but just my opinion

Grow So High said:

seems like these bugs probably came in your bag of soil I would assume, I’ve read theories about companies putting predator mites in their soil to prevent fungus gnats and things like that. I believe the bugs you have are likely feeding on your organic matter in the soil based on how small your seedlings are and how populated they are coming straight out of a fresh bag of soil with no plants/roots to feed on. I would bet they are predator mites but just my opinion

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This is my feeling too like you said especially with the plant being so small.

It has to have come in the soil.

Quick simple thing to do is research your soil on the manufacturers website.

If it doesn’t say “we add predatory mites” then email them and ask if they do?

I buy my wife cheap shit soil from the local store for her veggies etc. They come with free springtails every time lol.

jondamon said:

This is my feeling too like you said especially with the plant being so small.

It has to have come in the soil.

Quick simple thing to do is research your soil on the manufacturers website.

If it doesn’t say “we add predatory mites” then email them and ask if they do?

I buy my wife cheap shit soil from the local store for her veggies etc. They come with free springtails every time lol.

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Free predator mites lol can’t beat that

I hope you all are right on them being beneficial. I just took some pics with a jewelry's loop and my phone. Looks to be completely clear with some red on their head. The population since yesterday doesn’t seem to be growing or moving to other plants.

My wife bought me some been like today while we figure out what predators to use. You all think it’s a good idea to hit the plants with some neem oil?

StayHungry said:

I hope you all are right on them being beneficial. I just took some pics with a jewelry's loop and my phone. Looks to be completely clear with some red on their head. The population since yesterday doesn’t seem to be growing or moving to other plants.

My wife bought me some been like today while we figure out what predators to use. You all think it’s a good idea to hit the plants with some neem oil?

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There’s also something I neglected to mention earlier.

Hypoaspis miles are commonly transported in vermiculite with guess what added in as food for them? MOULD MITES!!

So it could be if you check enough that you possibly could have both Hypo and Mould mites that came in your soil especially so if PROMIX added hypoaspis miles that they procure from a predatory mite company etc.

Here’s some more pics of hypoaspis miles for identification.

Grow So High said:

Free predator mites lol can’t beat that

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Well springtails aren’t predatory they’re detrivorous feeders. Feed on decaying matter. But I’ve also found if populations aren’t controlled they can effect plant vigour.

StayHungry said:

I hope you all are right on them being beneficial. I just took some pics with a jewelry's loop and my phone. Looks to be completely clear with some red on their head. The population since yesterday doesn’t seem to be growing or moving to other plants.

My wife bought me some been like today while we figure out what predators to use. You all think it’s a good idea to hit the plants with some neem oil?

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As for this neem will never hurt but if these are hypoaspis miles they need to be able to feed. They don’t predominantly have to have insects to feed on and can live for a short space of time on decaying matter.

Personally I would research your soil and contact the company too to double check. ALOT of companies are adding predators into their soils etc as most processing of soil is done unshielded as in out in the open.

So it’s a way for them to know the really nasty bastards aren’t going to infest their soil.

Neem and DE did not work for me against hypoaspis miles but I think you have a better shot because your plants are still in a solo cup. If you transplant them into a 5 gallon+ pot you probably will not beat hypoaspis miles. You gottta accept them or restart pretty much.

jondamon said:

There’s also something I neglected to mention earlier.

Hypoaspis miles are commonly transported in vermiculite with guess what added in as food for them? MOULD MITES!!

So it could be if you check enough that you possibly could have both Hypo and Mould mites that came in your soil especially so if PROMIX added hypoaspis miles that they procure from a predatory mite company etc.

Here’s some more pics of hypoaspis miles for identification. View attachment 4545102View attachment 4545103

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the ones I’m seeing don’t have that much red towards their head looks white/clear with a couple red spots.

jondamon said:

Well springtails aren’t predatory they’re detrivorous feeders. Feed on decaying matter. But I’ve also found if populations aren’t controlled they can effect plant vigour.




As for this neem will never hurt but if these are hypoaspis miles they need to be able to feed. They don’t predominantly have to have insects to feed on and can live for a short space of time on decaying matter.

Personally I would research your soil and contact the company too to double check. ALOT of companies are adding predators into their soils etc as most processing of soil is done unshielded as in out in the open.

So it’s a way for them to know the really nasty bastards aren’t going to infest their soil.

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Just sprayed some Neem at 1 oz per gallon made sure to soak the soil. I sent a email to ProMix so we will see how that goes.

Grow So High said:

Neem and DE did not work for me against hypoaspis miles but I think you have a better shot because your plants are still in a solo cup. If you transplant them into a 5 gallon+ pot you probably will not beat hypoaspis miles. You gottta accept them or restart pretty much.

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I hope you’re right only time will tell. Restart as in get new medium or is there any way to reuse this?

I didn’t spray any of the flowers cause I’m not to sure how long the Neem stays around but then again I sprayed the roots so I’m sure the plant in ingest some...is this harmful to smoke flowers later on? The bottle does sayyou can use it up to day of harvest but I don’t really trust that

StayHungry said:

the ones I’m seeing don’t have that much red towards their head looks white/clear with a couple red spots.



Just sprayed some Neem at 1 oz per gallon made sure to soak the soil. I sent a email to ProMix so we will see how that goes.



I hope you’re right only time will tell. Restart as in get new medium or is there any way to reuse this?

I didn’t spray any of the flowers cause I’m not to sure how long the Neem stays around but then again I sprayed the roots so I’m sure the plant in ingest some...is this harmful to smoke flowers later on? The bottle does sayyou can use it up to day of harvest but I don’t really trust that

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you have a good shot at getting rid of them in that solo cup. Just keep in mind they probably aren’t harming anything. I’m glad you actually care about what you use on your plants, I wouldn’t use neem in flower. You definitely don’t want that stuff on or in your buds

Doesn’t look like my seedling made it. The tap was all drier up on the very end. Here are some pics of the root under a slide at 25x. Looking to order some sort of predator Monday.

StayHungry said:

Doesn’t look like my seedling made it. The tap was all drier up on the very end. Here are some pics of the root under a slide at 25x. Looking to order some sort of predator Monday.

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Did you say you could see 2 small spots on their back?


If so bulb mites have those spots.

jondamon said:

Did you say you could see 2 small spots on their back?

View attachment 4545940
If so bulb mites have those spots.

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Yes those are it! What would be the best plan of attack now that they are identified?