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Help! Little black bugs.. Springtails?

Discussion in 'Issues, Disease and Pests' started by Jgrimm1055, Apr 11, 2017.

  1. Apr 11, 2017 #1
    Jgrimm1055

    Jgrimm1055 Jonathan loves Masdevallias!

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    Does anyone know what these are? They seem to jump. Maybe springtails? I don't know what it is. Is this something bad that will hurt my orchids? Or just a little bug crawling around doing its thing? I've seen a good number of them. If there something I need to get rid of please let me know how. This is my first bug problem. I grow a lot of Pleurothallids Masdevallia, Dracula etc... I know they can be sensitive so is there something I could use to treat these kind of orchids? Thank for your help orchid friends! I've lucked out for a long time not having any pests. Screenshot_20170411-140149.png Screenshot_20170411-140135.png Screenshot_20170411-140334.png Screenshot_20170411-140314.png Screenshot_20170411-140302.png Screenshot_20170411-140242.png Screenshot_20170411-140442.png Screenshot_20170411-140342.png
     
  2. Apr 11, 2017 #2
    Fumiaki Takahashi

    Fumiaki Takahashi miniature orchidaholic

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    I looks like a Sminthuridae springtail.
    They eat decaying matter.
    They should not be a problem but they reproduce extreamly quickly.
    Hope this helps:)
     
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  3. Apr 12, 2017 #3
    Fumiaki Takahashi

    Fumiaki Takahashi miniature orchidaholic

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    Bty, nice pics., springtails are fast jerky 1-2 mm composters.
     
  4. Apr 12, 2017 #4
    Jgrimm1055

    Jgrimm1055 Jonathan loves Masdevallias!

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    Those pics were not easy to take! Lol
     
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  5. May 5, 2017 #5
    annabanana1987

    annabanana1987 Active Member

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    Wow I have never seem them before. Thank you for posting it's a very cute little bug. Hopefully they don't harm much other wise they are my new unknown enemy.. if they don't cause damage and only eat rotted matter then they a bonus right ? They eat dead matter and then turn it into fertilizer :) hopefully you let us know an update on what you do about them
     
  6. May 5, 2017 #6
    Fumiaki Takahashi

    Fumiaki Takahashi miniature orchidaholic

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    They are composters, which means they eat biogadraging matter.
    They shouldn't be a problem unless your orchids are rotting.
     
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