Root Aphids, Fungus Gnats, and other fun bugs (ID PICS)

[Buttercup726]

Still very paranoid. FG or RA any thoughts

 

[Homesteader]

Looks like a gnat to me.

 

[Anthem]

I recently had root aphids and this stuff works along with Mematodes.
Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis

 

[Buttercup726]

I recently had root aphids and this stuff works along with Mematodes.
Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis

thanks bud. I’ll look into that. What’s your thoughts on the pic? Did you have fliers?

 

[Dirtbag]

That's a Fungus Gnat on the yellow sticky. A flying RA is smaller and has larger wings.

 

[Anthem]

thanks bud. I’ll look into that. What’s your thoughts on the pic? Did you have fliers?

For sure I had flyers, that is how I found them. I also threw up some yellow stick traps to keep the adult population from growing. BTU and the memotodes works. The Memotodes actually enter the larvae from their body cavity, butt hole and release and enzyme that kills the larvae and then they eat the larvae, which leads to more memotodes. Not sure which one smoked them but together they were totally eliminated.

 

[Buttercup726]

Set

For sure I had flyers, that is how I found them. I also threw up some yellow stick traps to keep the adult population from growing. BTU and the memotodes works. The Memotodes actually enter the larvae from their body cavity, butt hole and release and enzyme that kills the larvae and then they eat the larvae, which leads to more memotodes. Not sure which one smoked them but together they were totally eliminated.

def the nematodes. Bro they seek and destroy. Appreciate the input

 

[Dirtbag]

For sure I had flyers, that is how I found them. I also threw up some yellow stick traps to keep the adult population from growing. BTU and the memotodes works. The Memotodes actually enter the larvae from their body cavity, butt hole and release and enzyme that kills the larvae and then they eat the larvae, which leads to more memotodes. Not sure which one smoked them but together they were totally eliminated.

By mematodes, I assume you mean Nematodes? and autocorrect is screwing with you. It was in there spelled wrong so many times.. not sure.

Another product that works great for RA's in substrate based media is Botanigard. It's not cheap, but it works well.

 

[Anthem]

By mematodes, I assume you mean Nematodes? and autocorrect is screwing with you. It was in there spelled wrong so many times.. not sure.

Another product that works great for RA's in substrate based media is Botanigard. It's not cheap, but it works well.

Yes Sir Dirtbag, I totally suck at spelling!!!

 

[THCMonster]

Hey everybody! Hope this helps ID problems with some common garden pests and critters.

Root Aphids (Aphidoidea)

"Root Aphid" is a broad term describing an unknown number of species of aphids that can attack crop roots. They are most commonly seen outdoors, where they feed on leaves of plants and overwinter either as a dormant egg or as a colony feeding on stored sugars/starches in plant roots. Indoors they are common pests due to the concentration of sugars, amino acids, and nutrients in the roots. Aphid eggs are sought after by some species of ants, who will nurture a colony of aphids to feed on their sugar and nutrient rich excrement. A common misunderstanding is the referencing of Root Aphids to phylloxera, which is another family of insects that is very similar to aphids but lacks the telltale "tailpipes" and "honeydew" discharge that distinguishes aphids.

here are some pictures of root aphids in their winged or "flier" form

View attachment 301449View attachment 301452
you can see by these images that the winged aphid holds it's wings parallel and vertical, at the sides of it's body. It's head is similar sized to the rest of the body, and it's abdomen is either green, yellow, brown/red, or black depending on diet. It's legs are also all of a similar size (male aphids can have quite long legs, however). Immature aphids can also be seen in the bottom picture.

"crawler" form:

View attachment 301448
Notice the "tailpipes" (cornicles) on the abdomen of the aphid. These protect it when it feels threatened by producing a hard, waxlike substance that coats the aphid's exterior. This aphid was unique in that it displayed many of the common colors of root aphids. Depending on what they feed on and their maturity aphids can be any shade of either yellow, green, or red, and occasionally black/brown.

an example of aphid colonization/infestation

View attachment 301447

View attachment 301446





Fungus Gnats (Mycetophiloidea)

Fungus gnats are generally obnoxious because they get stuck in flowers in large numbers. Since their larva eat decaying matter, a growing population of fungus gnats generally indicates either over-watered plants/over saturated media, or an unhealthy root mass. Females will travel from pot to pot looking for optimum conditions to lay eggs. Females lay eggs in the top 2-3 inches of soil and can lay up to 200 in her 10 day life. Both the eggs and the larvae are very cold resistant, but cannot survive without a moist environment. It is recommended to let the top 2-3 inches of soil dry out between waterings in most media to avoid fungus gnats, especially late in flower.

Fungus Gnat flier:

View attachment 301450

View attachment 301451
You can see that fungus gnats have three definitive body segments, very long legs, and wings that overlap and fold flat over it's abdomen. They are generally much larger than winged root aphids.

Fungus Gnat larvae

View attachment 301453View attachment 301454 The brown inside this guy is whatever he's been eating...probably roots as this picture was taken very late in flush. Normally they are clear like the section directly before his head. You can see his black head as well as his body segments, very similar to a caterpillar or inchworm.


And last but not least, a beneficial insect, the springtail

View attachment 301444

these guys resemble thrips, but are very small, clear, and can dart away quite quickly. Usually found in the runoff of pots after watering, having a springtail population isn't something to worry about. It is a sign that the soil biosphere (the rhizosphere) is balanced and in check. Springtails are known to eat spores and mycelia of pathogenic fungi that can cause damping off, as well as carry mycorhizzal fungi to root hosts, and control other forms of microlife that become imbalanced or disrupt the rhizosphere. Springtails are estimated to have some of the highest populations of any animals on earth, and play an important role in soil conditioning.
View attachment 301445
Springtails are nice to eachother, they know what's up. They're you're friends, too!


That's all for now folks, thanks for lookin!

Springtails are fun to watch they jump like kangaroos! Lol

 

[Justtryingtolearn]

Hey everybody! Hope this helps ID problems with some common garden pests and critters.

Root Aphids (Aphidoidea)

"Root Aphid" is a broad term describing an unknown number of species of aphids that can attack crop roots. They are most commonly seen outdoors, where they feed on leaves of plants and overwinter either as a dormant egg or as a colony feeding on stored sugars/starches in plant roots. Indoors they are common pests due to the concentration of sugars, amino acids, and nutrients in the roots. Aphid eggs are sought after by some species of ants, who will nurture a colony of aphids to feed on their sugar and nutrient rich excrement. A common misunderstanding is the referencing of Root Aphids to phylloxera, which is another family of insects that is very similar to aphids but lacks the telltale "tailpipes" and "honeydew" discharge that distinguishes aphids.

here are some pictures of root aphids in their winged or "flier" form

View attachment 301449View attachment 301452
you can see by these images that the winged aphid holds it's wings parallel and vertical, at the sides of it's body. It's head is similar sized to the rest of the body, and it's abdomen is either green, yellow, brown/red, or black depending on diet. It's legs are also all of a similar size (male aphids can have quite long legs, however). Immature aphids can also be seen in the bottom picture.

"crawler" form:

View attachment 301448
Notice the "tailpipes" (cornicles) on the abdomen of the aphid. These protect it when it feels threatened by producing a hard, waxlike substance that coats the aphid's exterior. This aphid was unique in that it displayed many of the common colors of root aphids. Depending on what they feed on and their maturity aphids can be any shade of either yellow, green, or red, and occasionally black/brown.

an example of aphid colonization/infestation

View attachment 301447

View attachment 301446





Fungus Gnats (Mycetophiloidea)

Fungus gnats are generally obnoxious because they get stuck in flowers in large numbers. Since their larva eat decaying matter, a growing population of fungus gnats generally indicates either over-watered plants/over saturated media, or an unhealthy root mass. Females will travel from pot to pot looking for optimum conditions to lay eggs. Females lay eggs in the top 2-3 inches of soil and can lay up to 200 in her 10 day life. Both the eggs and the larvae are very cold resistant, but cannot survive without a moist environment. It is recommended to let the top 2-3 inches of soil dry out between waterings in most media to avoid fungus gnats, especially late in flower.

Fungus Gnat flier:

View attachment 301450

View attachment 301451
You can see that fungus gnats have three definitive body segments, very long legs, and wings that overlap and fold flat over it's abdomen. They are generally much larger than winged root aphids.

Fungus Gnat larvae

View attachment 301453View attachment 301454 The brown inside this guy is whatever he's been eating...probably roots as this picture was taken very late in flush. Normally they are clear like the section directly before his head. You can see his black head as well as his body segments, very similar to a caterpillar or inchworm.


And last but not least, a beneficial insect, the springtail

View attachment 301444

these guys resemble thrips, but are very small, clear, and can dart away quite quickly. Usually found in the runoff of pots after watering, having a springtail population isn't something to worry about. It is a sign that the soil biosphere (the rhizosphere) is balanced and in check. Springtails are known to eat spores and mycelia of pathogenic fungi that can cause damping off, as well as carry mycorhizzal fungi to root hosts, and control other forms of microlife that become imbalanced or disrupt the rhizosphere. Springtails are estimated to have some of the highest populations of any animals on earth, and play an important role in soil conditioning.
View attachment 301445
Springtails are nice to eachother, they know what's up. They're you're friends, too!


That's all for now folks, thanks for lookin!

 

[Justtryingtolearn]

Trying to figure out what little crawlies I have scooting around in my grow. The closest thing I can find to a picture of what I have is “We Solidarity's” post on commons garden pests and critters in this thread. They kinda look like his pics of springtails (hoping that’s is because I have a ton of them). I have fungus gnats that I just applied nematodes to combat but then noticed these little guys stuck to my yellow sticky traps. 100s of them. I suppose they are just in the soil. Can’t find any with my jewelers loop on the leaves. Growing in subcool’s super soil recipe. As a newbie, I know now I’ve been overwatering and have figured out how to cool it on that front. Anywho, these first pics are on the yellow sticky traps.... the big bugs are the fungus gnats. The tiny things that look like dust specs are the ones I’m concerned about. I put them under the microscope to get a clearer pic.

The second group of pictures is just to show scale and a different color background (white electrical tape).

 

[Luckydux]

Your correct. Springtails

 

[THCMonster]

Your correct. Springtails

These guys are fun to watch, I wouldnt worry about them, most people try to get rid of them because they are bigs, and thus they think they're infested. But springtails are actually benefical insects. Its actually a good sign to see them.

A good way to test for the future is to take a piece of white computer paper and hold it under the plant, then shake the plant, if you poke them with a pen and they jump away 9/10 they are spring tails. But if you are ever worried about Thrips just get some blue sticky traps, only thrips go for the blue traps.

 

[Thrive1]

Don't think it's mites.
If it's just a few old veg then it's nothing. Grow past the insult.
If it's evident in fresh growth, then you have a nutrient or ph problem.
I think.

Or over watering

 

[Thrive1]

They actually make an agricultural product called thrip screen but idk if I've ever seen it outside of Florida

Glad wrap is the same just not as heavy duty

 

[PurpleKing1017]

can anyone help me ID these? They are hard to see in the picture, but i'm thinking either thrips or mealy bugs? They infested this bok choy, and I noticed a few of them on my veg plant about two days ago.

 

[Dirtbag]

Those are aphids @PurpleKing1017. I'd use botanigard.

 

[PurpleKing1017]

Those are aphids @PurpleKing1017. I'd use botanigard.

Much appreciated!! I tried using 1/3 vinegar to RO water solution and it didn't seem to help. The only thing is i'm worried if it's too late in the plants life to feed it botaniguard? What do you think? The seed was planted in march, and I'm 1-2 weeks away from starting flowering.

cheers

 

[Dirtbag]

Botanigard is a bio insecticide. About the only thing I'd use in flower honestly.

Vinegar is a herbicide at strong enough concentrations. I'm surprised you didnt damage the plant with it.

And it sure looks like you've already started flowering no?