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Little Tiny Bugs

DavyJones

Is ready to take this hobby to a whole new level
Hi guys. I'm pretty new to this whole thing, only been at if for a few months. Anyways, I have an N. x velvet, that seems to be doing pretty well, but today I noticed some tiny little bugs running around on top of the soil. They resemble beatles a little bit, but are super tiny, and are a little shiny (might just be wings of some sort.) I would love to get a picture, but they are too small and fast to even dream about capturing on film.

Here is an extra little tidbit. I have also noticed that the base of the plant is starting to darken. You can see it in the pictures below. Somebody on another forum mentioned that the plant is young, and might be prepping to vine and beginning to grow a 'woodier base.'

click the thumbnails for much larger picture

<a href="http://img206.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=79654_IMG_2062_122_574lo.jpg" target=_blank><img src="http://img206.imagevenue.com/loc574/th_79654_IMG_2062_122_574lo.jpg" border="0"></a>

<a href="http://img173.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=79661_IMG_2063_122_614lo.jpg" target=_blank><img src="http://img173.imagevenue.com/loc614/th_79661_IMG_2063_122_614lo.jpg" border="0"></a>

So here are the questions...

1) How likely is it that the bugs are problematic, and not just living in the strata?

2) Do you think the bugs could be causing the base to darken?

3) Is the plant just growing a woodier base and preparing to vine?

The dark area is definitely not a fungus of any sort, but is slowly moving up the plant. Leaf growth does not seem to be hampered at all, but I haven't seen any pitcher development in the past month or so. Temps are consistent 70 degrees. I have a humidifier running right now, (for my nose, not the plants, but they enjoy it for sure.) Humidity is usually between 50% and 60%. It gets window light, plus 2 75 watt equiv. CFLs. I water it every 2-3 days, just enough for the water to come out the bottom of the pot and to keep the soil moist but not soaking. It is not sitting in a tray of water. Thanks for your help! sorry about the length of the post

EDIT: Here's its only pitcher right now. Just thought I'd throw it in for fun

<a href="http://img173.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=81264_a1_122_669lo.jpg" target=_blank><img src="http://img173.imagevenue.com/loc669/th_81264_a1_122_669lo.jpg" border="0"></a>
 
i get the little beetles too....round...like a period? dunno what they do or if the are harmful....

just by looking at it....i cant reall tell if is wooding...or if its root rot. that looks like the uh... "northwest mix" id repot soon out of it as it quickly compacts from my experience. while your at it check the roots to determine if its root rot. if it is... youll be in for some serious trouble.
Alex
 
The bugs are longer then they are round. I have also heard that root rot damage begins to show at the top of the plant, and works its way down, but that's only what somebody else has told me. The dark area seems to be getting a little tougher and has a reddish brown color, so it seems to me that it would be wooding, but I have no experience whatsoever here.

And yes, if I pick up on your hint, or dislike, it would indeed be northwest mix if that refers to a certain retailer. I have had the plant for 3 months now, and it hasn't seemed to compact down at all. I'm sure I can find it on here somewhere, but what do you suggest as a good nep mix? Can you use 50/50 sphagnum perlite? or do you need some kind of bark in there as well?
 
by sphagnum do you mean peat? or actuall LFS? peat isnt the best thing to use for neps.... it also compacts really easily. LFS and perilite is a great mix...one of the best :)

longer? ah then they are springtails :) harmless.
Alex
 
They may be spring tails. I had them in one pot, and they spread fast. They shouldn't hurt anything. Are they whiteish-translucent?
 
They resemble beatles
lol

Anyway...springtails aren't beetles (or probably even insects for that matter). If thats what they are, they shouldn't be a problem. IIRC they only eat detritus and create soil in the process. Maybe try to kill one and take a pic? Sometimes, I'm pretty good with inverts :p

peat isnt the best thing to use for neps
It's good for lowlanders :D

LFS and perilite
:nono:
 
First of all... I have no idea how I managed to do this, but I thought I'd attempt to try and take a picture somehow. While pushing around dirt to find a bug, one started crawling on the lip of the pot, and I just snapped a picture. He must have wanted his photo taken. And it was in focus, which almost never happens. If you don't see it, just look for the obnoxious yellow arrows... On a side note... I love The Beatles, and often forget that the insects as such are spelled Beetles. Oh well. Heres the photo. Click the thumb

<a href="http://img200.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=13150_bug_122_230lo.JPG" target=_blank><img src="http://img200.imagevenue.com/loc230/th_13150_bug_122_230lo.JPG" border="0"></a>

And they don't jump, so I don't think they can be springtails.
 
PK: haha at least we agree on a few things. like the seed grown thing ;) im out of perilite. so i do use bark.

as for the bugs....no clue. never seen one before.
Alex
 
i have what looks like little tiny winged insects crawling around my soil... they look like very small flies??? My U. Sandersonii loves them though since they seem to live in the soil :)
 
  • #10
if that dark spot at the base is root rot, it'll spread REALLY FAST to the first leaf, then to the second, and so on until the whole plant is black. It can attack from the bottom up or the top down. Usually it only attacks from the top down on newly rooted cuttings though. If it's already been like that for a few days and you haven't noticed it spreading up the stem, I think the plant should be fine. As for the bugs... well, it's possible that they're nibbling at the roots, which is bad. That might even explain why the base is getting dark... See if it gets worse, and if it does, take out the insecticide :evil: There is a good possibility that they're harmless though.
 
  • #11
I really wouldn't say that the base is blackening, more just darkening to a reddish color. It has spread a bit to the lowest leaf on the plant though, but is moving fairly slowly. I guess I'll just keep my eye on it. The upper leaves continue to grow, which I consider to be a good sign. Plus, I really don't water it all that often.

As for the bugs, I used to keep hermit crabs, which, contrary to popular belief are really interesting little animals, and can actually live for a really long time, depending on how well you care for them (up to around 20 years sometimes.) The point being, hermit crabs like the same environment as nepenthes, and come from a similar region of the world. There always seems to be little bugs in the terrarium they live in. Almost 95% of the time, they weren't harming anything, but were just a nuisance to look at. Warm and humid environments invite bugs, and I think most are just there for the dirt.
 
  • #12
If those bugs have wings, then I can't tell what they are without seeing them in person/a wayyy closer photo. If they don't, they're probably some kind of larvae making a meal of your roots. If you don't think they're doing anything, then leave them be if you want. Personally, I'd use some insecticide just in case....I really don't like bugs on my plants.
 
  • #13
They do indeed appear to have wings of some sort, and they are pretty fast for their size. I know you've probably answered this a million times, but what insecticide would you suggest? Preferably something I could pick up at wal-mart or the local hardware store...
 
  • #14
I'd suggest anything systematic. Don't use the stuff I use because since your bugs are in the soil, my brand isn't going to get them. I think glider uses something systematic?
 
  • #15
I just went out and Purchased 'Sevin' ready-to-use bug killer. It's in a spray bottle, and is .126% Carbaryl. I searched for info on it around here first, but didn't seem to find much on it. The directions say to apply directly to the leaves, but seeing as the bugs are in the soil, I was going to apply directly to the soil. Is this a bad idea? I was going to get some sort of Ortho or the bayer brand, but they all we're liquid concentrates and were designed for a hose, which I obviously don't need for such a small plant. I was planning on just spraying a bit of this stuff directly to the soil. It says it works on Thrips, Springtails, etc. so I'm assuming it will be effective. Input?!
 
  • #16
I use Sevin lol. I just had to do this to a VERY arthropod infested plant I just picked up, and it seemed to work. And, the plant in question was a merrilliana, which are quite sensitive, and it didn't seem to skip a beat. Anyway:

Unpot the plant and get as much soil off the roots as possible. Put all the old soil in a plastic bag and throw it away. Spray/wash the roots off with water until they're relatively clean. Soak the whole plant (including roots) via spraying with Sevin. Get a brand new pot, and mix up whatever media you're going to use (make sure it's moist). Put in the microwave for a minute or two (however long it takes to get pretty hot). Wait for it to cool down, especially in the center, and pot the plant in it. Done.
 
  • #17
This just seems to continuously spawn new questions. I have tried to search for this before, but there are so many posts that use the words, "soil" and "nepenthes" in them that I have a hard time finding something useful. What kind of substrate do you suggest for highland nepenthes as such? Right now it is in what somebody else called, "northwest mix." He suggested I change, so I'm really confused. Live sphagnum, or just dry long fiber? Sphagnum peat? Too many choices.
 
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