What the hell are these? YUK!

capertilla

Hi all, I have a bit of a problem. It's with my Carmona which I have repotted with the same bag of soil as my Plum and my Serissa. Now the Carmona has some things in the soil which the other two don't! This makes me inclined to think that the bugs came with the tree. Anyway they are tiny little worms which are see through. They wiggle when you poke them! I've looked on the net and thought they might be nematodes but they're not microscopic! I would guess they're about 3-5 mm in length. There are a lot of them, I can see at least 20 just on the surface and I don't know if they are at the bottom of the soil. Obviously I'd like to know what these little critters are and will they damage my tree? As yet the tree is healthy although not growing very quickly and some leaves turn brown and fall off. Are the pests stealing food and nutrients from my tree? Is there any way I can get rid? Would it do me any good to repot or may they be inside the tree? Help please?!

Jo

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AndyWilson

Hey Jo, you'll get much better response if you post a pic or two to help the resident genius's to id the creatures, there is hardly anything that hasn't been disscused or identified on this site!!

capertilla

I think they'd be far too small to photograph and being see through you can only really notice them when you blow on the because they move. I'll try tonight though and post pics tomorrow if they are visible. Thanks

clwagner167

Jo,

I'm wondering if your tree might have springtails. They are common and multiply like crazy. They have a silver/white color and pretty much fit your description.

Springtails live in, or on top of, the soil. They move about in a jumpy manner. The presence of an individual insect is considered rather beneficial; however, when they appear in large numbers, they become pests, because then they attack the roots. Springtails only multiply in wet soil. To get rid of them, treat the plant with a household spray.

However, if you cut back on watering, this will greatly reduce them. When you repotted did you comb the roots and wash them and the tree off?

If you decide to use an insecticide, try to go with the least toxic? I don't know if Neem oil will help with these, but it is worth a try?

Just a thought,
Cheryl

Globalist1789

The first thing that I thought of was fungus gnat larva. They themselves are not really harmful, but this is because you only see them when the soil is kept too wet and that water WILL hurt the plant.

Try holding way back on the water and see if they go away. I have a feeling they will.