Never seen this before. I started feeding them nutrients (vinasse based) and as a preventive act caused by lasts years devastating fungus gnat infestation I started early on bringing nematodes in all room plants a week ago. No gnat spotted this year so far, but it’s early spring atm.
Then I started seeing this colorful „egg-like“ things on the soil on ALL plants including succulents (only Echinopsis spp in the tent is free of these). I took a sample and saw mites that were up to 1mm in length. They are solely in the soil, no stalk or leave has them on, and no detectable damage yet.
The yellow bug sticker cards are all empty.
So my theory is: after introducing the nematodes, some predatory might has been hatching (they also got more water than usual because the nematodes need moist soil to survive) and feeding on my nematodes. I have some pictures and maybe some experienced entomologists are here that can help me what to do 🙏
by Petersilius
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I used 60X magnification and killed this individual with propane gas.
If these will eat fungus gnats as well I‘m fine wirh them beeing there, if this might be harmful to my plants Inwill have to take action immediately I guess. I searched using seek app (intauralist database) and found one that has a striking resemblence, BUT it‘s supposed to be a parasite on bee species. There are no bees or wasps here yet.
https://www.insects.ch/art/nymphe-cf-parasitellus-fucorum-syn-parasitus-fucorum