Unknown Insect

So some setting, 100% organic (Roots Organic nutes)/Happy Frog soil, all from seed, no exposure to 'external gardens.' I am familiar with all the basic insects found in our gardens, spidermites/thrips/whitefly/aphids/springtails. Ok now that you hopefully have a decent idea of where I'm at, my inquiry is as follows. I have a population of white mite-like insects about the size of a period. When examined under a 30x loupe they are fast, unable to count the legs, but I noticed they have 'hairy' antennae approx 1/2-3/4 the size of the main body. I was freaking out about them possibly being the dreaded root aphid but the body style and antennae are all wrong for a true aphid. Haven't seen them interacting with my springtails yet so not sure if they are keeping population control. I haven't been able to take a picture yet because of size and speed. I hate making my debut on rollitup like this, but y'all's experience should help in identification. Thank you for your time.

are they in clusters, do they have wings, what signs are they leaving behind ie. holes in leaves black dots, are they on the top or bottom of the leaves, are they on the lower leaves and tops leaves or one or the other and do you see them in your soil?

sorry to answer your question with more questions

Sorry should went further. As far as I can search they are limited to soil only none on plants. No damage to plants visible, roots by the drainage holes look healthy. To get an idea of what they look like imagine a red predatory mite and a white orb mite crossed. They are pure white with fuzzy/hairy twitchy antennae, and fast especially for soil insect. No clusters just individuals

I'd say spray and soil drench with one of many organic insecticides(as long as you arent too far in flower) and try to identify it later. Spinosad, pyrethrin, and neem oil all have pretty broad ranges in terms of the insects they will take care of.

I have sucrashield, but being 100% organic I like my balanced ecosystems. I'm currently trying to identify before preemptively causing any imbalance. The twitchy antennae remind me of an insect hunting so if they are predators I would like to keep them. Feed the soil not the plant. Thank you though, any input is welcome.

Yo RAMBO ....if in doubt ...KILL ...use neem oil to remove bugs and prevent molds

https://www.rollitup.org/blogs/blog32238-neem-oil.html

Letum said:

I have sucrashield, but being 100% organic I like my balanced ecosystems. I'm currently trying to identify before preemptively causing any imbalance. The twitchy antennae remind me of an insect hunting so if they are predators I would like to keep them. Feed the soil not the plant. Thank you though, any input is welcome.

Click to expand...

I think you are describing a variation of soil mite.

Do an image search and see if they match.

If I remember they are a sign of a healthy living soil.



J

jondamon said:

I think you are describing a variation of soil mite.

Do an image search and see if they match.

If I remember they are a sign of a healthy living soil.



J

Click to expand...

THIS^^

What you are describing sounds very much like a mite called Hypoaspis Miles...Beneficial, as they eat soil dwelling pest larvae...they look like this...