|
Post by vraev on Mar 2, 2009 11:44:23 GMT -5
@ Dvg, Sorry Doug. I can't get you a closeup right now. My parents came over and took away the main camera. All I have left now is the camera in my phone and the iphone 3g camera sucks at taking macro pics. I will try getting the camera the next time i visit home (a couple of weeks though. ). ellsie, Thanks for the ID. I will try to get a better picture from a microscope. I will sneak into my tissue culture labs and try using the microscope and see if I can positively get some ID on those bugs. Oh my God! You scare me Ellsie. lol! These things are all over my plants. Not like tons of dust....but its more random specks here and there. I am trying to increase ventilation....and cut down on watering... Do u positively know if this specific species or if the group of globular springtails preys on LIVING tissue? I always thought springtails do eat vegetation...but their damage is insignificant on the plant unless there is a swarm of them.
|
|
|
Post by ellsie on Mar 2, 2009 12:38:10 GMT -5
It's kind of hard to say exactly what the springtails may do to your plants without a positive ID, but I wouldn't worry too much about these little guys actually doing any significant harm/damage to your plants.....I think thye just found a nice place to set up shop!
|
|
|
Post by vraev on Mar 2, 2009 14:12:20 GMT -5
I do have a few small seedling size plants and if I recall correctly some of the damage on them does look like these marks. www.ipm.msu.edu/cat06field/fc05-25-06damagedsoybean.htmIf damp and cold is the conditions they love....that means I am looking at the beginning of an infestation here. My conditions exactly cater that.
|
|
|
Post by ellsie on Mar 2, 2009 15:36:48 GMT -5
From what I've seen and heard from others, Springtails don't cause significant damge unless there is a HUGE population of them. So, when you're bored and you happen to be staring at your plant's soil and the surface seems to come ALIVE (I'm talking about thousands per square foot of springtails here!), then I would start to get a bit concerned...... However, the 2 pics that you show are of the species Bourletiella hortensis, a species commonly found in fields and crops. It usually is a solid color, either all black or reddish-brown. The species that you were describing (the blakc one with 2 white dots) is usually found in soils of indoor plants. Either way, most springtail species are very sensitive to dessication, due to their rudimentary respiratory system. So, I would suggest to try and improve your ventilation setup you currently have for your plants, and don't overwater before you try chemical sprays.
|
|
|
Post by lloyd on Mar 2, 2009 16:26:40 GMT -5
An insect expert! You're a good resource for the forum.
|
|
|
Post by dvg on Mar 2, 2009 16:58:33 GMT -5
An insect expert! You're a good resource for the forum. Yes, Ellsie is a great addition to our small but growing group. V, hopefully in a couple weeks you will have a new pitcher opening for us. Do you find it grows quite steadily for you? Hope so, 'cuz I'd really like to see that close up...great teeth on those beasts.
|
|
|
Post by ellsie on Mar 2, 2009 22:07:26 GMT -5
Awww......thanks guys! Now you're making me blush like Dvg's P.debbertiana!! Of course, I am by no means an insect expert at all. I'm just more than happy to share stuff I know about my other main hobby, as long as it helps others with their insect problems!! Besides, that's what this forum is all about!!
|
|
|
Post by vraev on Mar 2, 2009 22:47:28 GMT -5
totally true! You are a fantastic resource on our forum Ellsie. Glad to have you here. Now we just have to get you more into CPs . lol! Thanks for the clear description and for answering my concerns. Yeah! I am planning a few rennovations to my setup in the coming months. yeah Dvg! I do have a slow pitcher taking its own time. Hopefully it will open up. To be totally honest...the teeth on my clone aren't too impressive compared to the other hamata pics I have seen around. I guess we have to wait till the plant makes mature lowers.
|
|
|
Post by lloyd on Mar 3, 2009 10:03:21 GMT -5
Now I can upload all my pictures of weird bugs.
|
|
|
Post by dvg on Mar 3, 2009 10:20:51 GMT -5
I wouldn't mind. I could sit and look at weird bug pics all day long. In fact one of the gifts I received for Christmas was 'The Super-Organism: The beauty, elegance, and strangeness of insect societies', by Bert Holldobler and E. O. Wilson.
|
|
|
Post by ellsie on Mar 3, 2009 11:29:58 GMT -5
Wow, a GREAT book written by 2 Pulitzer Prize-winning authors dvg!!
|
|
|
Post by lenynero on Mar 3, 2009 11:36:23 GMT -5
Just wondering if Diatomite powder would be a good thing to sprinkle on the soil since these springtails are prone to desiccation?
|
|
|
Post by ellsie on Mar 3, 2009 15:56:54 GMT -5
That's an interesting question, lenynero..... I've only ever used diatomite powder as a slug repellent. I always thought that it wasn't the best thing to use for horticulture purposes since the diatoms are almost always of salt-water origin and the high-salinity levels wouldn't be suitable for plants, especially CP's. From what I've seen, most diatomite powder available for sale usually consists of mostly silica, but the other minerals might be a problem for CP's, namely aluminum oxide, iron oxides, sodium, magnesium, etc. Just my $0.02 though!
|
|
|
Post by mabudon on Mar 14, 2009 11:21:20 GMT -5
heck LC, for 2 cents that was a bargain I used some coffee on my humble collection of Neps recently and the result is so far (coupled with longer and longer days) pretty freakin spectacular- my Neps don't pitcher in winter due to low humidity and low light BUT the last few leaves I have seen are MUCH different from the existing stuff, the leaves are quite a bit more "stout", darker green (as reported by DVG) and SUPER glossy- I can't WAIT til I get the things back outside and they kick in, I imagine pither colour will be positively affected as well Thanks for drawing this to our attention DVG, nothin like new tricks to get things lookin up
|
|
|
Post by dvg on Mar 14, 2009 18:08:49 GMT -5
Good to hear you are getting favorable results Mabs.
I have now given all of my Neps one coffee feeding. I want to report that they are all still alive and some of them are really looking good. So I don't think one coffe treatment will harm your Neps in any way, and may very well help some of them out of a stagnant growth cycle.
|
|