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  1. #1
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    White Bugs in the Hydroton

    I am looking for anyone that can help us. We have recently noticed some tiny white bugs in the hydroton. They are not on the surface. We only see them when you dig down in the hydroton, but not far down. They are tiny and they seem to hop a little.

    If anyone knows what these are and what to do about them, please let us know. We've only had our system since April 2011 and are still new to this.

    Thanks.

  2. #2
    Members cedarswamp's Avatar
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    Re: White Bugs in the Hydroton

    A picture is worth a thousand words.

    Tiny white bug could be anything, soil mites, fungus gnat larvae...perhaps with a better description we could help ya narrow it down.

  3. #3
    Moderator davidstcldfl's Avatar
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    Re: White Bugs in the Hydroton

    Hi Brandi... ...welcome.

    I don't know what they are (?) You could put a cap on your stand pipe, and flood the bed....let the little buggers drown...
    "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same." - President Ronald Reagan

  4. #4
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    Re: White Bugs in the Hydroton

    I tried to take a picture but the bugs are too small and you can't see them unless you know where to look. I took a video and posted it to youtube. Hopefully this will help narrow things down a bit.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTGANhHhNPM

  5. #5
    Members cedarswamp's Avatar
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    Re: White Bugs in the Hydroton

    Looks like springtails.

  6. #6
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    Re: White Bugs in the Hydroton

    Thank you. Is this something that should be a cause for concern - for the vegetation or us eating the vegetation? Should we try to remove them? If yes, how would we do that? We don't want to harm the fish.

  7. #7
    Members cedarswamp's Avatar
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    Re: White Bugs in the Hydroton

    They're not harmful to humans or plants, they eat decaying organic matter. I'm not really sure but they may be beneficial to have in your grow beds much the same way worms would be. I have had them in my worm bin without any negative impact and IMHO they are just part of a healthy ecosystem. If they're staying in your grow beds and not really causing any problems I wouldn't worry about it, again just MHO.

  8. #8
    Moderator badflash's Avatar
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    Re: White Bugs in the Hydroton

    The larvae are good fry food.
    The best fertilizer is the farmer's shadow

  9. #9
    Moderator urbanfarmer's Avatar
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    Re: White Bugs in the Hydroton

    Quote Originally Posted by badflash
    The larvae are good fry food.
    That was my FIRST thought! FREE fish food, and they like to eat fish poop. PERFECT!

    Quote Originally Posted by cedarswamp
    They're not harmful to humans or plants, they eat decaying organic matter. I'm not really sure but they may be beneficial to have in your grow beds much the same way worms would be. I have had them in my worm bin without any negative impact and IMHO they are just part of a healthy ecosystem. If they're staying in your grow beds and not really causing any problems I wouldn't worry about it, again just MHO.
    They're not harmful to humans, but they can be harmful to plants. There are over 60,000 species of springtails. Just like when you were a kid and you liked to eat glue, but the kid next to you prefered cookies (or was it the other way around)... anyway, some springtails prefer detritus (decaying organic matter) and some springtails prefer sugar beat ROOTS. It really all just depends, but since you can't ask the springtails nor am I an entomologist, I really can't say without looking it up. Although, I can tell you this... we would need some seriously more detailed pictures to make a visual ID. Most likely, you would need a microscope. The best way is to wait and see if it eats your plants. If not, you're probably A-OK.

    Springtails
    http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ig124

    Springtails
    http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74136.html

    Springtails in Sugarbeet:
    Identification, Biology, and Management
    http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/plantsci/ro ... e1205w.htm

  10. #10
    Members cedarswamp's Avatar
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    Re: White Bugs in the Hydroton

    Quote Originally Posted by urbanfarmer
    Quote Originally Posted by badflash
    The larvae are good fry food.
    That was my FIRST thought! FREE fish food, and they like to eat fish poop. PERFECT!

    Quote Originally Posted by cedarswamp
    They're not harmful to humans or plants, they eat decaying organic matter. I'm not really sure but they may be beneficial to have in your grow beds much the same way worms would be. I have had them in my worm bin without any negative impact and IMHO they are just part of a healthy ecosystem. If they're staying in your grow beds and not really causing any problems I wouldn't worry about it, again just MHO.
    They're not harmful to humans, but they can be harmful to plants. There are over 60,000 species of springtails. Just like when you were a kid and you liked to eat glue, but the kid next to you prefered cookies (or was it the other way around)... anyway, some springtails prefer detritus (decaying organic matter) and some springtails prefer sugar beat ROOTS. It really all just depends, but since you can't ask the springtails nor am I an entomologist, I really can't say without looking it up. Although, I can tell you this... we would need some seriously more detailed pictures to make a visual ID. Most likely, you would need a microscope. The best way is to wait and see if it eats your plants. If not, you're probably A-OK.

    Springtails
    http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ig124

    Springtails
    http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74136.html

    Springtails in Sugarbeet:
    Identification, Biology, and Management
    http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/plantsci/ro ... e1205w.htm

    OK "MOST" springtails are harmless to plants but I guess there's always that exception. So lets say she has one of the rare species that under certain conditions are harmful to certain plants, what would you suggest? Let the grow beds dryout? LOL

    If it ain't broke, why fix it?

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