Max Frost
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Collembola. Springtail. Harmless.
Yeah I'm having a little gnat problem myself , I just ordered some neem oil and it should be in tomorrow. But I don't think they really cause a problem
I hate fungus gnats.
There worse time for me is in the summer months.. I place sticky traps on paper plates , and place them on the floor area.. and also hang one up.. I also been lightly misting my top soil after waterings with a little neem oil mix.. and mist the drainage holes too.. It just keeps the little bastards population down.. They love the organic matter and feast on it.. Chocolope! wtf.. More Special K bro.. Best always Donny Peps
Hi Max.
Springtails are not related to fungus gnats.
Fungus gnats are small flies which lay their eggs in soil and coco. It their larvae which we have problems with. The larvae eat plant roots and can even work their way into stems, killing the plants.
Springtails are an entirely different type of animals that largely eat dcaying organic matter. Depending the the type - and I have no idea which one you have there - they can be beneficial or harmful. Beneficial, as they consume decaying matter and turn it into nutrient; harmful, as they can feed on root or spread pathogenic fungi through the consumption of mycelia and spores. So if you are having issues with damping off, that may be why.
If you did have fungus gnats, I suggest treating them. Left unchecked, their population can explode and cause real problems.
Super info, yellowhead! Thank you so much! Is there a way I can tell whether I have the beneficial or harmful variety? Also...what have you found is the best way to treat for the gnats? Any chance I can eradicate both the gnats and springtails at the same time? I hate to treat for anything more than I absolutely have to.
Thanks again for your time and assistance!
No idea on how to tell them apart. They're a hugely diverse group of little critters and I'm no expert on them.
As for fungus gnats, I'd go with something like Gnatrol, ie something that contains Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis), a specific type of bacterium that kills and consumes the gnat larvae. You add it to water when watering and it devastates them.
I'm not to sure on how to deal with the springtails unfortunately. Maybe someone else has experience here? IME one the few occasions I've had them, they haven't caused me problems so never tried to rid myself of them. That could just as easily have been luck mind you...
bro what yer lookin at are adult springtails! lol wikipedia is yer friend :p
i agree with the recommendation for gnatrol, it's good stuff. ya gotta make sure do do a couple of reapplications to break the cycle though.
neverbreak
Nice garden Max!
Encouraging!
Do you think I can grow with flurescent lights? I don't have ventilation other than a big fan.
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