I am baffled by a pest that shows up in my pots time and again. Have looked it up every time and I know that's amazing but it looks like I am the only person in the world who has seen it! No ID.
I think I can get rid of it, but I REALLY want to learn what it is, more out of heightened curiousity than anything; plus there's the fact it has finally found a pot I can't drown...
I can see it well under loupe.
Please consider that this is certainly not a springtail, aphid or thrips. I am well familiar with those.
It's found on the soil and rhizome area. When you drown the pot, you see them scurrying up the stems in little groups. Black, oval (like a mite), clearly visible antennae. Microscope reveals mandible like small mouth.
It walks a steady pace but jumps when threatened. Not as fast as thrips but certainly very mobile...Biggest one is a little smaller than a VFT seed.
Here is the damage,
And here is the current residence! When you shake the pot over a white sheet of paper, you'll see them falling on it, walking fast and jumping around...
Sadly I can't drown this pot, I don't want to risk the root cutting of cephalotus.
My guess is that it's a kind of mite but Google's mite pictures don't have any antennae...
Has anyone got a latin name for it so I can do some research ?
I think I can get rid of it, but I REALLY want to learn what it is, more out of heightened curiousity than anything; plus there's the fact it has finally found a pot I can't drown...
I can see it well under loupe.
Please consider that this is certainly not a springtail, aphid or thrips. I am well familiar with those.
It's found on the soil and rhizome area. When you drown the pot, you see them scurrying up the stems in little groups. Black, oval (like a mite), clearly visible antennae. Microscope reveals mandible like small mouth.
It walks a steady pace but jumps when threatened. Not as fast as thrips but certainly very mobile...Biggest one is a little smaller than a VFT seed.
Here is the damage,
And here is the current residence! When you shake the pot over a white sheet of paper, you'll see them falling on it, walking fast and jumping around...
Sadly I can't drown this pot, I don't want to risk the root cutting of cephalotus.
My guess is that it's a kind of mite but Google's mite pictures don't have any antennae...
Has anyone got a latin name for it so I can do some research ?
