Symphilids...advice would be nice

[Mountain]

But is there any way to prevent these nasty root eaters? I know on way to lessen the chances of them but that would be to change my soil and buy a soil without animal manure.

IF you have infected soil best thing to do IMO is toss it. You can prevent them by not using infected soil and can't really see any other way to get them. Have never heard of an indoor grower getting symphylans from bagged soil and have never seen/heard of an indoor grower having symphylans but I haven't been on the boards much lately either.

but I will testify that I saw what I saw, whatever it was, and zapped it with tobacco,

Well you saw what you saw and won't debate that. Just saying symphylans in an indoor grow would be a very rare thing...from what I understand.

 

[SquekyTuba]

From what I understand they are symphylans and the term 'symphilids' is not scientifically correct but generally accepted (Scutigerella immaculata). I doubt because in most cases where peeps claim they have them they don't. Have seen peeps misdiagnose basic pest issues for years so especially question a symphylan diagnosis. They are mainly an issue in the Pacific Northwest outdoors. I deal with Oregon Tilth and from what they told me there is no accepted, effective organic control for them known. That was later last year and that could have changed.

From UC Davis...


You can always use the cut potato method to bait them...if you have them.

Yea sorry for being a smart ass but im 100% sure it is i saw it crawling around it was a white thing with antennas that looked almost like a centipede.

 

[SquekyTuba]

I havent killed it yet but when i go to i will try and find it first and i will take a picture of it

 

[Mountain]

In general, practices that improve soil structure (e.g., addition of organic matter, reduced tillage, raised beds) improve the ability of garden symphylans to move through the soil, leading to increased populations and/or increased damage through improved access to roots. As a result, high populations of garden symphylans are more commonly found in fine-textured, heavier soils with moderate or better structure and many macropores, rather than in sandy soils. (Edwards, 1958; Edwards and Dennis, 1962) When garden symphylans are found in sandier soils, these soils have commonly been amended with organic matter.

Hot spots within infested fields often remain consistent from year to year with little change in populations and only minor lateral spread, possibly due to physical characteristics of the soil. However, changes in hotspots do occur. (Umble and Fisher, 2003c)

Garden symphylans are unable to burrow through the soil. They use pores, seasonal cracks and burrows made by other soil animals, such as earthworms, to travel through the soil profile.

Symphylans are interesting pests...spent some time researching them last year.

 

[Mountain]

Yea sorry for being a smart ass but im 100% sure it is i saw it crawling around it was a white thing with antennas that looked almost like a centipede.

No biggie...just have my reasons to doubt it was a symphylan. Whatever it is KILL IT!!! LOL!

Pics would be very cool.

 

[guest2012y]

Interesting stuff Mountain.....sounds like you have a great deal of experience with them. Fortunately I've not run across any in my various soils or materials.
What do you think about a greater diversity of overall soil critters plus neem seed meal and/or crab shell in the soil mix? Are you familiar with the hypothesis of chitin eating organisms and the interuption of a pupate or larval stage?

 

[Microbeman]

Just to be an ignoramous; one could confuse largish sprintails or light colored centipedes/millipedes, which are beneficial with, Scutigerella immaculata which also may be beneficial but might need a healthy population of warrior rove beetles to keep them in check.

 

[guest2012y]

These are blind springtails...I was calling them blind soil thrips. Beneficial in breaking down organic matter. I've also read they eat micro organisims. I've got millions of these guys and no problems with the plants.

 

[Microbeman]

Rove Beetles; Love em

 

[SquekyTuba]

Ive made my exterminating juice but i want to find out what it is for sure first because this plant doesnt matter.

 

[guest2012y]

Rove Beetles; Love em

At first I was like WTF...then I recognized them. They don't hang around in my indoor pots for some reason. I've seen them in the soil when I bring it in,but never see them when I go to dump the pots after a cycle. Must not like plastic pots.

 

[madliberated]

those bugs all have good guy looks to them.

when I asked that bug for ID, it totally ignored me.

When I have seedlings in little teeny pots at over ten bucks a pop, I am a little zap-happy.

 

[madliberated]

These are blind springtails...I was calling them blind soil thrips. Beneficial in breaking down organic matter. I've also read they eat micro organisims. I've got millions of these guys and no problems with the plants.

those guys are great houses for microbes when thy die. I take it as a good sign that their body parts are strewn all over my wormycompôte

 

[Mountain]

Just to be an ignoramous; one could confuse largish sprintails or light colored centipedes/millipedes, which are beneficial with, Scutigerella immaculata which also may be beneficial but might need a healthy population of warrior rove beetles to keep them in check.

If you have an organic solution to the symphylan problem for large scale agriculture you'll make some good bank. Mr. Ignoramus...lol...springtails might be a very good explanation for what's going on here with the OP.

I dunno how beneficial symphylans are or can be...

 

[madliberated]

I dunno how beneficial symphylans are or can be..

maybe they feed something?

 

[guest2012y]

those guys are great houses for microbes when thy die. I take it as a good sign that their body parts are strewn all over my wormycompôte

Thanks ML...I've been looking for positive info. from other growers about these guys.

 

[guest2012y]

If you have an organic solution to the symphylan problem for large scale agriculture you'll make some good bank. Mr. Ignoramus...lol...springtails might be a very good explanation for what's going on here with the OP.

I dunno how beneficial symphylans are or can be...

What do these guys do?..put up that yellow "Caution" tape,but instead it says,"do not plant past this point".
I'd be thinking outside the box on this one. It may not be cost effective to administer large volumes of one organic thing or another,but if those were my crops and I had any extra $$$,I'd find something organic that works ASAP. Wether it's accepted by the Tilth or not....I could not say.
If I had a plot of infested soil to play with I'd be trying ALL the little organically accepted tricks up my sleeve just to test them.

 

[vonforne]

My Grandfather used tobacco to worm the horses each spring. Grandma used it the garden all the time. It works on most insects but does not work good with beetles if I recall.

Grandpa used to just spit on them......I think it was Redmann or Beechnut. lol

V

 

[Sgt.Stedenko]

Bacillus thuringiensis

Kills 'em every time.

 

[SquekyTuba]

I caught one of whatever is in my soil and my camera sucks but the camera on my laptop is decent. in the past few days the plant has really grown though im not sure what it is. And the end of my leaves are browing?