Mysterious Bugs Return Again! HELP IDENTIFY PLEASE

Earwigs. Can't seem to find them? Wake up to holes and torn leaves. Only on the newest growth? I don't see why those fuckers are not HIGH up on the Cannabis pest list. They will eat an entire plant over night! And only come out at night so it's almost impossible to catch the fuckers.

Dr. Who said:

Didn't even comeback for a look.....some folks have to realize that waiting for the answer you want.....Is generally not, the answer!

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So I won't be harvesting about a pound?



FUCK!!!

Indacouch said:

So I won't be harvesting about a pound?



FUCK!!!

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LOL!

CaliSmokes said:

Earwigs. Can't seem to find them? Wake up to holes and torn leaves. Only on the newest growth? I don't see why those fuckers are not HIGH up on the Cannabis pest list. They will eat an entire plant over night! And only come out at night so it's almost impossible to catch the fuckers.

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Doesn't look like that kind of damage - Not earwigs....Interesting, as a rule, they don't consume the plants in the cannabis family.....

Dr. Who said:

Doesn't look like that kind of damage - Not earwigs....Interesting, as a rule, they don't consume the plants in the cannabis family.....

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I'm had them twice now, they seem to love cannabis, maybe I'll provide a video, I've caught them at night devouring new growth. Then growth seems to come to a stop. They like to hide under the pots, even burrow into the soil, then it becomes a big problem trying to catch them or dig everything up. DE stops them from exiting, but as soon as you water they are back. I've tried sluggo plus, they don't seem to eat it. Sprays seem to work, but since they only come out a night! I've got them under control for now, but they seem to be my reoccurring pest


Damn sorry do the thread hijack

/earwig paranoia

CaliSmokes said:

I'm had them twice now, they seem to love cannabis, maybe I'll provide a video, I've caught them at night devouring new growth. Then growth seems to come to a stop. They like to hide under the pots, even burrow into the soil, then it becomes a big problem trying to catch them or dig everything up. DE stops them from exiting, but as soon as you water they are back. I've tried sluggo plus, they don't seem to eat it. Sprays seem to work, but since they only come out a night! I've got them under control for now, but they seem to be my reoccurring pest


Damn sorry do the thread hijack

/earwig paranoia

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Well, they do have a shit ton of different one's......Must not have those hippie Californication, marywana eat'in ones here in MI....

A HA! - "There are also species of earwigs which will attack plants, especially seedlings. These tender shoots are good food for earwigs. The earwig damage can be seen on some crop and garden plants, and the damage can injure the plant to the point of making it unproductive."

MSU field office - suggests you stuff some wet straw in a small box and make one small hole at the bottom on one end.....Put this right by your plants and that will attract them to living in there after you get the pots lifted off the surface you set them on by a cpl of inch's and avoid watering to any run off. You made their old house un-attractive and they move to the box. Dump the fuckers from the box into water with dish soap added every mourning. Replace the wet straw and keep going... You will see their numbers reduce....To eliminate, You need to make about 2-3 ft from your house foundation as dry as possible (your forming a barrier they don't like to cross). Now eliminate as many outdoor hiding places as you can! Old logs, places that hold dampness under them etc.....

Good luck!

Dr. Who said:

Well, they do have a shit ton of different one's......Must not have those hippie Californication, marywana eat'in ones here in MI....

A HA! - "There are also species of earwigs which will attack plants, especially seedlings. These tender shoots are good food for earwigs. The earwig damage can be seen on some crop and garden plants, and the damage can injure the plant to the point of making it unproductive."

MSU field office - suggests you stuff some wet straw in a small box and make one small hole at the bottom on one end.....Put this right by your plants and that will attract them to living in there after you get the pots lifted off the surface you set them on by a cpl of inch's and avoid watering to any run off. You made their old house un-attractive and they move to the box. Dump the fuckers from the box into water with dish soap added every mourning. Replace the wet straw and keep going... You will see their numbers reduce....To eliminate, You need to make about 2-3 ft from your house foundation as dry as possible (your forming a barrier they don't like to cross). Now eliminate as many outdoor hiding places as you can! Old logs, places that hold dampness under them etc.....

Good luck!

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Lmao ! Had no idea they had different ones, thanks for that!

Damn I never knew that about the mushroom compost. That really grinds my gears! I already have some of my plants up potted into their final homes. Might be a good opportunity for a side by side. Wouldn't be a perfect comparison but either way I wont be using mushroom compost any more. Tough to find quality compost in my area especially in the winter. My plants are looking really nice after that tea application. I was under the impression that silica products can help induce the SAR response of plants thats why I used the agsil 16h . I have seen some information to support this and was told the same by a knowledgeable source. Anyways my plants are doing cool so I guess we trudge on ! Thanks for the help from everyone.

ScaryHarry45 said:

Damn I never knew that about the mushroom compost. That really grinds my gears! I already have some of my plants up potted into their final homes. Might be a good opportunity for a side by side. Wouldn't be a perfect comparison but either way I wont be using mushroom compost any more. Tough to find quality compost in my area especially in the winter. My plants are looking really nice after that tea application. I was under the impression that silica products can help induce the SAR response of plants thats why I used the agsil 16h . I have seen some information to support this and was told the same by a knowledgeable source. Anyways my plants are doing cool so I guess we trudge on ! Thanks for the help from everyone.

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Silica:
It is used by the plant to build cellular walls and toughens the plant a bit against attacks from insect and molds. It helps regulate P uptake and storage. It strengthens branching so it can support more weight and not snap or crack if it droops. It has a very minor SAR effect....Chitonase is far better for that SAR effect.

This looks like the same bug I am dealing with right now. I believe it is a bulb mite. My plants do great until they are at about the 2-3rd week of flower depending on the strain. I haven't been able to find them on the plant itself. Even after cutting down two that I had in my flower room and placing them in black trash bags. Then I inspected them a couple days later. They only stay in the root zone. I have started experimenting on them now that I believe I know what they are.

@AkFrost Holy fuck dude, those look identical to what I have. I was told by several people including evergreen growers supply and arbico organics that they were hypoaspis miles which they do look alot alike but I keep getting some random leaf deformities and actually yesterday I noticed a clone I took was rotting at the stem and I pulled it out and these fuckers or the hypoaspis miles were all over the dead rotted portion of the stem. They were moving very slowly so I assume they were not predatory. I usually see them crawling on my pots which woud be weird for hypoaspis to act like that. That being said I have a very successful run going at the moment. I am in a very healthy living organic soil. I applied hypoaspis miles , fallacis and rove beetles on two occasions during this run. My rove beetle population is so high they are like fungus gnats now sticking to some buds! Basically at this point I am just living with these pests. My plant health is very high this run so I believe that is helping to combat these fuckers. I tried everything to kill these things with no luck. OG Biowar , neem, pyrethrin, acephate and they just kept coming back. I think a new thread is in order for these little fuck bags! Drove me crazy for 6 months straight. Good find bud

ScaryHarry45 said:

hypoaspis miles

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Is a predatory soil mite that attacks fungus gnats/various flies and their larva. It is a good mite and is not harming the plant. it lives in the soil.

Leaf deformities can be normal. The seedling damping off. With out seeing the "damage" it's hard to say.

They tend to leave if they have nothing to feed on.....

Thanks Scaryharry45. Yeah I've been dealing with them for a while I believe. I have found and have been posting on several forums on different websites. I have tried several different things on them too. They are pretty indestructible. I just posted on the thread I started on here when I was trying to figure out what they are and how to deal with them. Predatory mites (hypoaspis miles) will keep them in check. I took clones about a week ago and am getting ready to start over. Hopefully they do not return or i'll try hot water drenches. 122 F for 10 minutes is supposed to do the job if you want to stay miticide free. I'll walk away from my rooms after I heat treat and/or bomb it and keep them sterile for about three months if it doesn't work. Then start over. Here are some links I found or have been shown on them. http://www.everwoodfarm.com/Pest_Insect_Cross_Listing/Bulb_Mites

https://ohiofloriculture.osu.edu/sites/ohioflori/files/d6/files/file/bulb-mites.pdf

This one is from jumpincatus (staff member) @ thcfarmer
http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/r584400111.html
And this is the one I read that the hot water treatments should be 100% effective at killing them. Courtesy of mesquite @ thcfarmer
http://www.ct.gov/caes/lib/caes/documents/publications/bulletins/b402.pdf

@AkFrost no problem man. I honestly think that I have both the bulb mite and the hypoaspis in my soil. I think my applications of hypoaspis miles have helped to keep them in check. Also the rove beetles (atheta coraria) are a general soil predator and I'm guessing they will prey on the bulb mite. I have since stopped worrying about these bugs for the most part . I tried everything to get rid of them and had just about zero luck. I was also at the point where I was micro managing my plants , looking at every little thing and thinking the worst. I got fed up and just said fuck it and moved on.

Fast forward two months and I am now approaching what looks like one of my best harvests to date. My main goal this run has been to keep shit clean and maintain optimal root zone or soil health. My main inputs have been beneficial insects,ACT's, aloe, yucca, LAB serum, bokashi, Dandelion FPJ, Modern Microbes and a fermented ginger garlic and chili extract. I rotate through these and my plant health has been on 100 for some time .

What medium do you grow in @AkFrost ?

Awesome, glad to hear the hypoaspis miles and grow is going good. I got fed up too but I'm starting over...lol. I grow hydro in rockwool grow cubes. The mites seemed to stay in check or at least not able to hurt the plant when it is in vigorous growth. I give my plants Recharge instead of brewing teas and they just pray to the light after I do. I will keep you posted if, when and how I get rid of these pests

@AkFrost @Dr. Who At this point it is safe to assume that these are in fact a pest and not a beneficial insect (hypoaspis miles) Toight I was able to capture pics of these bugs on a lower fan leaf with clear damage to the leaf.

Unless there is documented evidence of hypoasis miles crawling up the plants and eating leaves I really believe these are bulb mites like akfrost has identified. They are mostly dead or moving incredibly slowly which is good I guess. Interesting to say the least.

Those are not soil mites. H. Miles has a tan or brownish color....

Cpt. jacks or Forbid would be my call here.....

Dr. Who may be right. Those might not be bulb mites. Bulb mites stay in the soil/ media. I still haven't seen a bug on my plants. I read there is a type/ stage of bulb mite that attaches itself to a host to start a new colony. I.e. It has been known to attach itself to fungus gnats. Here is a pic of what I have. I think it's a bulb mite. I'll keep looking into it for you.