(I originally posted this in jumping spiders sub but unfortunately received no responses.) I finally have a very successful springtail culture so I added some to my jumpers’ bio active enclosures. That was approx one month ago.
Recently, I was cleaning out the bits of cricket left behind by one of my spider’s meal from the day before and I noticed a TON of the white springtails thriving in it now! (Yay!)
Then I noticed some darker colored “springtails”, so now I’m worried they might be something else, possibly mites?
I’ve only read a little about them so I’m not sure enough to give a proper ID, or what steps to take if they are. The springtails within my culture are all white, only a few have a thin black line along the length of their bodies, which I think is normal.. However, you’ll see in some of the photos is one that I removed from the enclosure and is completely dark in color. And in the other photos, there’s some kind of insect that I don’t recognize at all.. Can anyone tell what these are? And how to go about riding the enclosure of them, if they could potentially harm my spider?
by welcome_to_cocomo
1 Comment
I have the same things, I think they’re soil mites. They don’t seem to be acting like spider mites and they’re not really on my plants, just the soil. As to whether or not they’re harmful, I have no clue; supposedly they’re just decomposers, but they may or may not go after your roots, I don’t know. Hopefully I gave you a path or research!