Guest InsaneLampshade Posted September 5, 2003 Report Share Posted September 5, 2003 Today i noticed some tiny black bugs crawling over my vft, they look like really tiny beetles (about 0.5mm), as far as i can see they don't seem to be causing any damage, but there are quite a few of them, does anyone know what they are? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Aidan Posted September 5, 2003 Report Share Posted September 5, 2003 Do they look similar to thunderbugs? If so, it may be thrips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike King Posted September 6, 2003 Report Share Posted September 6, 2003 Something that small could be spider mite. Look very closely overthe next few days the health of the new growth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest InsaneLampshade Posted September 6, 2003 Report Share Posted September 6, 2003 i had a look at some pictures of thirps and spider mites on google, but both of these seem to be a pale colour, these things are black like i said, they don't seem to be doing any damage, and all the new growth looks healthy at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Aidan Posted September 6, 2003 Report Share Posted September 6, 2003 Think about thunderbugs, they are thrips and they are black. There are many different types of thrips and colour is not always a good indicator. Thrips also resemble beetles very closely which is why I mentioned them in response to your original post. Spider-mites look somewhat different. If they are thrips, they may prove to be either harmless or extremely damaging depending upon the type. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim A Posted September 6, 2003 Report Share Posted September 6, 2003 If they jump when they are disturbed they could be springtails. I get round black ones on mine , they gather on the nectar bands in the morning then wander around on the soil through the day. They probably do some good as they are supposed to feed on mould but a few D. Rotundifolia dotted around the pots keeps them under control.They seem to be harmless anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest InsaneLampshade Posted September 6, 2003 Report Share Posted September 6, 2003 i don't think they were jumping, altough they seem to spend more time on the soil than on the plant, so i can't really see them untill they crawl onto the plant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dave2150 Posted September 7, 2003 Report Share Posted September 7, 2003 In my opinion - whatever the little things are, you need to destroy them (cant be doing your plants any good) Try using a bug spray, and dilute it with a good bit of water. I have done this many times for my vfts, with no ill'effects :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest clark kent Posted November 3, 2003 Report Share Posted November 3, 2003 How much dilution? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenofeden Posted November 3, 2003 Report Share Posted November 3, 2003 if they are springtails or sciarid flies they wont be doing any damage so I would leave them, insecticides wont kill springtails anyway! dont spray unless you have to, try submerging the plant in water for a few days in preference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zongyi_yang Posted November 3, 2003 Report Share Posted November 3, 2003 why won't insecticide kill springtails? Zongyi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C_Skinner Posted November 3, 2003 Report Share Posted November 3, 2003 Insanelampshade i believe these are the same s what i had on one of my VFT's not so long aggo. They didnt seem to move when poked or brushed. I held a ciggarrete lighter to the aswell but this also didnbt make the budge. After a few days though they all seemed to dissapear and the plant resumed growing even after being slightly burnbt by the lighter. Insecticide is probably safer but i didnt have any. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vertigo Posted November 3, 2003 Report Share Posted November 3, 2003 Sciariad flies themselves won't do much as far as damage, but the larvae that they could leave behind could quickly take out a few seedlings, and even larger plants that are somewhat stressed. if they are springtails or sciarid flies they wont be doing any damage so I would leave them, insecticides wont kill springtails anyway! dont spray unless you have to, try submerging the plant in water for a few days in preference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenofeden Posted November 4, 2003 Report Share Posted November 4, 2003 why won't insecticide kill springtails? Zongyi because they are not insects! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zongyi_yang Posted November 4, 2003 Report Share Posted November 4, 2003 well, ive been told :D . Zongyi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Aidan Posted November 4, 2003 Report Share Posted November 4, 2003 Zongyi - See this: http://www.thurlo.force9.co.uk/springtails/index-page5.html Everything you ever wanted to know about springtails......and more! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zongyi_yang Posted November 4, 2003 Report Share Posted November 4, 2003 Ack, thats a little more than i wanted to know . thanks Aidan. Zongyi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim A Posted November 5, 2003 Report Share Posted November 5, 2003 This is a photo of the ones I get on mine, they are matt black and rounder looking than the examples on that site, with long antennae. They seem to be harmless and I think the plant does get some benefit from the little dots of fertiliser they leave behind when they feed off the nectar bands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted November 6, 2003 Report Share Posted November 6, 2003 Tim, I've had a couple of those on my Neps only I cant get close enough to take a pic they dont seem to be doing any harm (nice pic by the way ) they seem to scuttle away quite quickly I dont want to spray unless anyone says they are bad :? James :D/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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