Help with pest identification

[Neiluj]

Hey folks,

Looking for some help identifying pests in my seedlings. I've been thinking these were fungus gnats for a while now, but I'm noticing they don't care much for flying. I know fungus gnats are weak flyers, but to date I've not seen any of them fly and the yellow traps I've set up here and there are empty.

To compound the problem, I think I found some thrips in some of my older plants, so now I'm thinking these might be thrips. In any case, I'd love to hear if anyone can shed some light on this problem...I've taken some clips and have linked them below. They're a little wobbly, but hopefully they can help with a positive ID.

https://player.vimeo.com/video/664063142?h=6f18bfa9f1
https://player.vimeo.com/video/664063242?h=2d8aa37b33
https://player.vimeo.com/video/664063310?h=ff2d514f6f
https://player.vimeo.com/video/664063385?h=7f49d74110

[jerrytheplater]

Can't say I can ID your pests, but you did mention Thrips. Just saw C and D post a product that kills Thrips in a post dated 1/13/2022 in this post: viewtopic.php?t=42129&p=390749#p390749

[keith]

That fast moving bug in the first video I get all the time in seedling pots. They don't seem to cause any harm. No idea what it is ?

[mmcavall]

Never saw this in my plants. They move fast. They don't look like trips . Remind me of some terrestrial crustaceans (woodlouse?).

[jerrytheplater]

Well, I actually did think of Springtails at first when I looked at the video but discounted them because they thrive in moisture. Now I see you are talking about seedlings. There is a potential for much moisture there. Maybe it is a Springtail. https://www.planetnatural.com/pest-prob ... l-control/

Springtails are harmless to plants and are often intentionally introduced into Paludariums, a combination of an aquarium and terrarium. I have them living in a jar growing a bog plant from SE Asia (Genus Cryptocoryne). The jar has wet soil with the leaves in the humid air of a closed jar. These plants grow an entirely different leaf form when growing emersed as opposed to immersed/submersed.

[jerrytheplater]

If it is a Springtail, here is a fascinating YouTube featuring high speed movie photos of the Springtails jumping. Even aquatic springtails jump off of water. https://youtu.be/MXeSnWY6DNc

[Neiluj]

Many thanks for the help Jerry. I think what threw me off were the fact that it looks like they have wings, but that may just be the gleam of their thorax. Additionally I didn't notice too much jumping at first, but as of late when watering it looks like a trampoline convention down there. Really happy to get a confirmation on this--there are so many that if these were pests, I think my seedlings would be doomed (and I have A LOT of seedlings)

I'm glad that I now only have to worry about red spider mites!

[jerrytheplater]

I had Springtails living on the surface of one of my aquariums once. I added a few guppies, and they ate them all. Glad it helped.