What are these bugs....?

[blondie]

One plant leaves look sickly so tonight I looked. I didn’t get far until I saw all these creepy crawlies around. Mostly if not all in soil and container, though leaves are twisted like fuck. Don’t know if I’ve ever seen anything like this. My grow room was shut down, all junk removed, old tent in the trash, swept mopped, etc. it was very clean. Has to be from the soil. Any rate what are these things and how eliminate. I have a large for me grow started.

I’ll try to get closeups. For now this is best I can do.

 

[goingrey]

Kinda hard to make out in the photos. Chubby fuckers though.. fruit flies?

 

[blondie]

One more. Bastards are crawling all over. I’m guessing aphids. Look at the bottom edge of the loupe where yes a chubby blob is. That is one of these things. Maybe Prego little bitch.

 

[blondie]

Not fruit flies, not flying. I just looked at the plant and don’t see any on it. Seems like soil dwelling. Can something like this live in the soil and screw with roots?

 

[goingrey]

It's possible for sure.

Sometimes it's the bugs themselves that cause the issue (like root aphids). Sometimes the adult bugs are relatively benign but their larvae cause problems for the roots (fungus gnats for example).

 

[FletchF.Fletch]

Hard to see them. Kind of look like Mealybugs (which cause leaf curl) or Woolly Apple Aphids. They look like Larvae emerging from dormancy in the Soil.

How do they move? Crawl, fly, or wriggle?

If they move very slowly, it is a bug called Scale. Ants herd them.

 

[blondie]

Crawl. Definitely crawl. Leaves are curling as a matter of fact. Two antennas. Roughly six legs. Does not like light.

 

[Terppalooza]

maybe benificial soil mites?

 

[blondie]

They are moving quickly, away from light. I seem to recall aphids not liking light.

 

[FletchF.Fletch]

Aphids.

Scary Life-cycle on those guys.

 

[blondie]

last image and I’m getting to spraying I guess. Damnnnn this sucks.

 

[Terppalooza]

is till think could be benificial soil mites. are your plants dying anything bad happening?

 

[blondie]

Yes the reason I’m looking at the plant is the leaves are twisted and misshapen. Something wrong with the plant.

I think I have root aphids which is a very bad situation. It lines up with this article: https://www.planetnatural.com/pest-problem-solver/houseplant-pests/root-aphid-control/

Anyone hear of this or use this? Ideas? Prayers?

BotaniGard® 22WP

BotaniGard 22WP controls multiple life stages of a wide variety of soft-bodied insects in greenhouse, field and nursery crops. Commonly controlled insects include whiteflies , thrips , aphids , psyllids , mealybugs , beetles , plant bugs and weevils . BotaniGard 22WP has the highest...

www.arbico-organics.com

 

[blondie]

I just checked all of my containers and nearly all have visible creatures crawling in the soil or the outside of the container. One plant they were on the leaves. My plants are infested. With brand new tents, clean room, new lights etc, the soil has to be the culprit. I’m thinking eggs came in the soil and hatched when I planted. Also thinking it’s root aphids.

I’ve learned there are root aphids and regular aphids.

 

[Creeperpark]

I can't make out the bug or even see the shape. It could be a result of a springtail, mealybug, or soil mite infestation. I don't know without seeing the bug magnified.

Root aphids should not be confused with soil mites, and spiders. The easiest way to tell them apart is soil mites have eight legs, and root aphids have six. They prefer the roots near the soil surface. They are often found where the soil meets the stem of the plant. Google

 

[Creeperpark]

Its very important that you get to the bottom of the infestation. Where and when do the pests appear? The change of the Season will bring bugs into the garden because they are looking for shelter from the cold. Since organic materials heat up when it decomposes it makes for a perfect home for soil pests. If you take your plants outdoors on Sunny days and bring them in on cold days, you can pick up hitchhikers. Lastly, too much organic matter in the soil can attract soil pests.

 

[Three Berries]

Mosquito Bits (BT) works for soil hatched bugs. Just add it to the regular watering.

 

[blondie]

Nothing came in from outdoors. The only outside thing is the soil. Pests are crawling on the outside of the container at any given time. Literally.. they are everywhere. Even in empty container I just filled with soil and vegetables seeds. A good photo is attached. It zooms clear and shows the body. Six legs and antenna. I'm still thinking root aphid but not certain.????

 

[Three Berries]

The only time I got plant chewing bugs was when I brought in my outside house plants one fall. I get small flying gnats around the kitchen in the summer mostly from vegetable waste. But I don't see any in the tents as long as I keep up on the BT. Sometimes spider web though so there must be something to eat.

I usually use the mosquito bits every other gallon of water but sometimes get lax.

 

[FletchF.Fletch]

I once had a Praying Mantis egg hatch during Winter on a Hibiscus we protected from Cold. Little baby Manti took over the whole House.

Aphids. If they're leaving the pot and crawling elsewhere they're probably the leaf-sucking kind and not the root feeding kind.

Initial generation, the one that spreads outward, is Asexual, Winged, and Pre-Impregnated. These lay eggs which hatch Wingless and give spawn to innumerable generations during warm Months. Eventually during the cycle, true Male and Female Aphids breed the Winged generation that spreads outward. Scary. Glad they aren't the size of Rats. Eggs are Overwintered on plants, weeds, leaf debris, etc.

Are there any other plants being protected from Winter elsewhere in the house? I always spray for bugs before (usually right when) bringing houseplants and tropical inside from outside.

Good Luck my friend.