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insane abundance of benifical mites

Discussion in 'Growing Organic Marijuana' started by 4ala2sk0a, Jun 9, 2019.

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  1. #1 4ala2sk0a, Jun 9, 2019
    Im not %100 sure what happened, but my room is covered with some kind of white mites, the plants have had trips and I sprayed a heavy neem all over the plants and room. Thats when this invasion began. It is like they are eating somthing microscopic that is growing on the neem oil.

    Any other have a simular experience?

    2019-06-08 21.03.53.jpg
     
  2. #2 GorillaGherkin, Jun 9, 2019
    oh man that would keep me awake at night.
     
  3. #3 Sc00byD00bie, Jun 9, 2019
    Could be many things need more details.
    Are they on the plant or in the soil? wings? do they jump around? can you get a pic?
     
  4. #4 4ala2sk0a, Jun 9, 2019
    They are in the soil, on the plant stems and leaves, my walls, the pots edges in and out, everything that had contact with the neem. They dont appear to be "deep" within the soil.

    They dont jump, they are not Aphids, they are a "white mite"; no spots, not brown or red, they move slowly. I can't get a picture worth sharing.

    No webbing no wings.

    I will get a microscope and try to get a good shot for everyone. It is really weird, but so far they DO not appear to be causing the typical damage you see from mites.

    I originaly thought spruce mites, as I discovered them 1 week ago, but by now my plants would be wiped out which is not the case.
     
  5. #5 tooslow, Jun 9, 2019
    Do you see 'spider webs' in the axils of the leaves?
     
  6. #6 FloorSlayer1979, Jun 9, 2019
    Spray bottle with room temperature water put 1 pinch of diatamatious earth "food grade only" pet store has it put the de in the bottle and shake it up spray under side of leaves and wherever you see them...

    Sent from my SM-S120VL using Grasscity Forum mobile app
     
  7. #7 4ala2sk0a, Jun 9, 2019
    @Sc00byD00bie

    Here are a bunch of pics showing the guys in numbers.

    20190609_083733.jpg
    20190609_083528.jpg
    20190609_083554.jpg
    20190609_083643.jpg
     
  8. #8 Sc00byD00bie, Jun 9, 2019
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 10, 2019
    Interesting, Idon't SEE any plant damage so I would guess maybe predatory but then what exactly are they eating to get such big numbers? :confused_2:

    Maybe @Chunk would know.
     
  9. #9 4ala2sk0a, Jun 9, 2019
    I did have THRIPS, which is why I sprayed neem; im wondering if their is some kind of fungi growing off the neem, creating a food source for the little guys.

    Its really odd! LOL.
     
  10. #10 Possuum, Jun 9, 2019
    i dont want to jump to conclusions based on a fuzzy photo but when i enlarged it to max it sure looks to me like those critters have 8 legs and if that be true that's not good.

    i think regulars around here know of my organic pest remedy - pyrethrin! i'd kill every one of those critters over several days.
     
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  11. #11 Chunk, Jun 10, 2019
    May be cucumeris mites since you had thrips already. Thrips often live the prepupal and pupal stage of their development in the soil which would explain large numbers

    They wouldn't be hanging around if there wasn't a food source. As long as you're not seeing any plant tissue damage, I'd monitor closely.

    @Prepper420 is the go to guy here on predator insects and may have some observations.
     
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  12. #12 4ala2sk0a, Jun 10, 2019
    That is an excellent lead.

    After doing some reading is appears those mites also eat pollen and some fungi.

    It was spruce pollen here recently, I also have a living chickweed mulch that flowers and seeds; another pollen source.

    If some kind of fungi was stimulated from my neem spray then that would also explain a food source.

    That is all I got so far. I just have to keep observing.
     
  13. #13 tooslow, Jun 10, 2019
    I do NOT see the typical 'spider webs' of the spider mite.
     
  14. #14 Sc00byD00bie, Jun 10, 2019
    Lack of webs doesnt necessarily mean there are no SM. In fact webs are only produced when the infestation is so advanced the SM are looking for new grounds to cover, usually by that time its too late to do anything to save the crop.
     
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  15. #15 Possuum, Jun 10, 2019
    i'd kill all the mf'ers. :judge:

    lady bugs and mantis are fine bugs to have i reckon but any insect that one needs a magnifying glass to see clearly what it is cant be good imo.

    let's talk risk management as it relates to fruitful harvest. is it a necessary risk to leave an obvious exponential hatch rate of an unidentified microscopic insect in the hope (prayer) that the insect is not harmful?

    growers choice. good vibes your way that it works out ok for ya!
     
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  16. #16 tooslow, Jun 10, 2019
    I see.
    Thank you.

    Wikipedia:
    They lay small, spherical, initially transparent eggs and many species spin silk webbing to help protect the colony from predators; they get the "spider" part of their common name from this webbing.[2]

    So...
    They may... and they may not!
    Sheesh.
     
  17. #17 jimmy jack, Jun 10, 2019
    My soil is covered in those things so much it looks like the soil is moving but they leave the plants alone.
     
  18. #18 4ala2sk0a, Jun 10, 2019
    Well Im observing the situation. As I said it has been over a week without any typical signs of mite damage; spider mite damage is obvious day by day. Once you been through the suckers once its hard to miss the signs.

    Nothing new to report other than they really do travel around a lot, from plant to plant, up and down all around.

    They are searching for food i am guessing.
     
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  19. #19 Possuum, Jun 10, 2019
    that's pretty wild. just wondering if you can play around with the macro lens on your camera to try to get a picture clear enough that we can see the body and legs.

    or not. if you're cool with the situation that's all that really matters. it just might be an opportunity for a few of us (me) to learn something new today :smoke:
     
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  20. #20 Organic sinse, Jun 10, 2019
    @4ala2sk0a if you just had the same spruce pollen explosion that I have been living in, then there is definitely food, if that's what they eat.
    This might be a lead of sorts, I see something like what you picture living on wild horseradish here in southcentral, and only on that plant. I have never identified the insect, but that might be a bread crumb to help you track it down. I always get gun shy of that plant for that reason, and weed it out of the yard and area asap. (plus it seems super invasive).
    good luck my friend
    cheers
    os
     
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