Are these beneficial insects or bad mites?

guhman2002

In Bloom
Question in the title. Here’s a video. Video might be too large, screenshots might not be great
This is basically just an old veg compost bin / living soil. It had worms and benes in it months ago and I’ve just been stacking trash and comfrey from expired grows
 

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stanknugzz77

CHOOSE YOUR TITLE
The first picture is about all that I can make out and I am fairly certain that is just a soil mite (beneficial). I was also worried whenever I first encountered them. Definitely don't just take my word for it though; I have been wrong before and my lady says I will be wrong again, probably sooner than later haha. Positive vibes...

~nugzz
 

BH

Tha Dank Hoarder
IPM Forum Moderator
If it was me,Send the picture to a bug wholesaler and ask if it a possitve or something you need to fight, if yes ask for their suggestion on what to defend and battle such.the company which I have asked such questions has not ony reassured me of what the bug is but what specific family or if it’s benefit or negative .

it’s not good to fight anu mite even if a negative wrongly , the days and how environmental requirements or what kills it is all based on such.

best success with their support and information but also A+ products or bugs is evergreen for the win and got me as a long term costumer.

if it is a predtor, it’s always nice to know what it is as well, like I still have h miles and rove beetles in my garden and I haven’t even applied them since last year lol

 

Kind024

In Bloom
Question in the title. Here’s a video. Video might be too large, screenshots might not be great
This is basically just an old veg compost bin / living soil. It had worms and benes in it months ago and I’ve just been stacking trash and comfrey from expired grows

Im having a hard time seeing the insects or mites in the photos/videos. I would say they are beneficial parts of the soil food web. Most plant pests want living plants to feed on the inner tissue or suck plants sap.

Are there any living plants in that bin?

Can you count there legs? If they have 8 legs than the belong to the Arachnida class. Like spider mites. However arachnida have 6 legs in their larval/nymph stages. There are many beneficial predatory mites too. Not all mites are parasites.

Most micro arthropods with six legs in the soil are beneficial.

If it's just a bin of composting organic matter they are probably beneficial.

I personally wouldnt worry about them. I like to observe insects and mites working in the soil.

Just my 2 cents...

It might not be a bad idea to get a professionals option as @Burned Haze mentioned.

There are over 40,000 known mites...or is it 80,000? Somewhere in there.
 
The first picture is about all that I can make out and I am fairly certain that is just a soil mite (beneficial). I was also worried whenever I first encountered them. Definitely don't just take my word for it though; I have been wrong before and my lady says I will be wrong again, probably sooner than later haha. Positive vibes...

~nugzz
Hey, I see you're getting a lot of advice on these bugs. I'm just going to tell you what I did and you can go from there. I don't need to see them any better than you've shown as I have stared at that type of bug for a very very long time. So much so, that I can guarantee, the bug in the picture, is beneficial. They actually kill root aphids and keep fungus gnats down. Obviously nugz, do what makes you the most comfortable, but as a friend who has 110% delt with, examined and researched this bug in question, you're fine. What you're going to find that separates that insect from a damaging one, is A) no "exhaust pipes" off its butt(which is a tell tale sign of root aphids) and B) those black dots you can't seem to find on them like the pics online show. Sound like what you're seeing? One thing I did pick up while researching this is actually the size is wrong too. I bet you're thinking, how the hell can see two little "pipes" off this tiny things ass!? Exactly! Because the bug you have is so small it's really, really hard to see if it does or not, right? I wish you the best, and hope you don't get too "bugged out" over it my friend. Just curious what medium you're running? I wonder if it's not something that medium seems to have more of. Anyway, I did nothing for those bugs, you can see them especially at watering, and I had absolutely no insect related issues. Let me know, also I have a ton of omri listed insecticide I'd be happy to send you as well. I will add though, and this goes to a lot of folks with soil insects. DE powder, mixed in to the top inch of soil will help a lot. Also aid in soil structure and amendment. Here to help if you need it man. Just let me know. Take care.
 
If you didn’t introduce them kill em! Get an all around preventative spray for use every week right from early veg and then something to clear the immediate infestation. Insecticidal soap or even dia earth might work on them.
 

stanknugzz77

CHOOSE YOUR TITLE
Hey, I see you're getting a lot of advice on these bugs. I'm just going to tell you what I did and you can go from there. I don't need to see them any better than you've shown as I have stared at that type of bug for a very very long time. So much so, that I can guarantee, the bug in the picture, is beneficial. They actually kill root aphids and keep fungus gnats down. Obviously nugz, do what makes you the most comfortable, but as a friend who has 110% delt with, examined and researched this bug in question, you're fine. What you're going to find that separates that insect from a damaging one, is A) no "exhaust pipes" off its butt(which is a tell tale sign of root aphids) and B) those black dots you can't seem to find on them like the pics online show. Sound like what you're seeing? One thing I did pick up while researching this is actually the size is wrong too. I bet you're thinking, how the hell can see two little "pipes" off this tiny things ass!? Exactly! Because the bug you have is so small it's really, really hard to see if it does or not, right? I wish you the best, and hope you don't get too "bugged out" over it my friend. Just curious what medium you're running? I wonder if it's not something that medium seems to have more of. Anyway, I did nothing for those bugs, you can see them especially at watering, and I had absolutely no insect related issues. Let me know, also I have a ton of omri listed insecticide I'd be happy to send you as well. I will add though, and this goes to a lot of folks with soil insects. DE powder, mixed in to the top inch of soil will help a lot. Also aid in soil structure and amendment. Here to help if you need it man. Just let me know. Take care.
Maybe I am just high, but I feel like you meant to reply to the OP. Positive vibes...

~nugzz
 

BH

Tha Dank Hoarder
IPM Forum Moderator
De powder sucks, exp for a coco grower. It’s worthless after watering and by factor of cost, how bad it is to breath in and then you have to re-apply after watering.

just sounds annoying and expensive , like play sand for fungus gnats which never worked for me and just made my pots extra retain and be heavy . too bad gnatnix (grinded glass 4 Fgnats) and that stuff did work , I tried to reuse w bags cause I put it the to[ layer all in a tout but since the glass becomes not sharp anymore over time of watering. It would only be good perlite now lol
 

guhman2002

In Bloom
Thanks for the info.

I introduced benes to this soil a couple years ago... it has a lot of grows under its belt. I’ve kept it alive and composted in it and it’s full of worms and microbes... I was just making sure those were just my predator mites still and not something damaging. I figured due to the beautiful soil life and no fungus gnats that they had to be good, just figured I’d double check before putting her back into rotation.

Thanks again.
 

guhman2002

In Bloom
If you didn’t introduce them kill em! Get an all around preventative spray for use every week right from early veg and then something to clear the immediate infestation. Insecticidal soap or even dia earth might work on them.
I’m not going to kill my benes and I have a really good ipm routine in my rooms. This is different though, as the post states... Thanks though
 
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