Help me ID this insect

[Bennyweed1]

Well I hate to start a thread this way but I dont know where to begin.

Inside my worm bin, when ever I add a fresh load of material, like MMJ leaves, veggie scraps, ext.....I get a heavy formation of tiny tiny white bugs. At first I didnt realize they were even bugs, they barely move but sure enough they are. They are probably about the size of a 1/16 grain of rice.

Ill try to get pictures later but honestly they are to small for my camera.

The are white, really small, look like a mite of some kind, move slow...and thats it....

Start throwing names out there so I can google it and reference the two. I just dont know how to ID them.
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[intotheunknown]

Get yourself a 60-100x microscope if you dont already have one and get a closer look at them.
do a simple google search with something like "soil insects" or along those lines to compare. youll run into what youre looking for.

 

[Seandawg]

Inside your worm bin?
Are your worms doing fine?
If so I wouldn't worry about it, they're most likely micro-arthropods of some sort.
There's so many different types of organisms in there breaking down materials that description is broad enough to fit about three hundreds thousand species lol

 

[W89]

There's so many different types of organisms in there breaking down materials that description is broad enough to fit about three hundreds thousand species lol


Is that all?

 

[ICMaggotMe]

Bennyweed,

They're most likely a member of the oribatid mite family of which there are a hundreds or so different species. They are soil dwellers and decomposers and are welcome in my worm bin.

It's hard to pinpoint exactly which species you have because Oribatida has 6 instars (different stages) and can change dramatically as they mature. Your probably seeing 1 of the 3 different nymphal instars if you're seeing small white "bugs".


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SLMT9DOgdY

 

[BlueJayWay]

Yeah probably soil mites, kinda like these little guys cruising on my worm? Just posted this picture in another thread but i think it's exactly what you're describing

and as noted above : They are soil dwellers and decomposers and are welcome in my worm bin.

 

[Bennyweed1]

Yeah probably soil mites, kinda like these little guys cruising on my worm? Just posted this picture in another thread but i think it's exactly what you're describing

View Image

and as noted above : They are soil dwellers and decomposers and are welcome in my worm bin.

Heck those are them! Good looking dude! Do you know their exact species?

haha sorry for the broad description guys but you did awesome. In 5 response I got an answer with a with my piss poor description that was equal to a pile of shit.

lol.......thanks again IC

 

[Microbeman]

Be really happy when you get the white ones that jump. Springtails.
Most mites are good..they contribute to breaking organic matter down.

 

[BlueJayWay]

The new place I tried worm castings from have a good population of springtails!