Plant Soil
What are these tiny white bugs in my plant soil?
I have an african violet with hundreds of tiny white bugs in the soil. They are about 1-2 mm in size (16th of an inch) and seem to run around quite quickly given thier size. They run around on legs (although they are too tiny to see) more like a millipede, not like a worm, and are clearly visible running around the top of the soil. They don’t seem to be going on the plant – just the soil.
They don’t seem to be affecting the plant (yet) but I’m concerned. Any idea what they might be or how to get rid of them?
I’ve looked on the internet and they don’t look like aphids or mites (although I know very little about them). I’m open to suggestions as to what they might be and how to get rid of them.
Thanks so much for your help.
It sounds as though they may be springtails (Order Colembola). These are primitive insects; generally only a couple millimeters long at the most:
http://www.entomology.ucr.edu/ebeling/figures/fig336.jpg
http://www.entomology.ucr.edu/ebeling/figures/fig337.jpg
(You can find more images by simple typing “springtail” or “colembolan” into a Google image search).
Here are the recomendations concerning springtails from the Texas A&M horticulture site (note that this is for show African violets). They are filed under the “nuisance” section:
“Springtails are minute, wingless insects about 1/10-inch long and vary in color from black to gray to white. They are found in dark, damp areas and in soils high in organic matter. Some species occasionally feed on living plant tissue such as sprouting seed, roots and tender shoots. Large concentrations of springtails often are found floating in water reservoirs or on the soil surface. They are very mobile and can be found crawling on plants, pots and tables. Literally thousands may be found in sand, gravel or other materials in propagation beds or plant trays. Control springtails by treating benches, shelves or the soil beneath greenhouse benches. Insecticide may need to be applied to the outside of pots and saucers and to the soil surface of potted plants when heavy infestations occur.”
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