insect on ariocarpus wool..termite?
insect on ariocarpus wool..termite?
I have what looks like a bunch of tiny termite looking critters roaming around the wool of an ariocapus. At first I thought they were thrips but upon closer inspection with a magnifying glass they look termites. Anyone know what there are? Sorry I don't have a macro lens so I can't take a pic.
- CactusBoss
- Posts: 668
- Joined: Sat Jan 14, 2012 3:46 am
- Location: Illinois
Re: insect on ariocarpus wool..termite?
It might be scale? Idk though without a pic.
Daniel (age 25)
Zone 5a
Zone 5a
Re: insect on ariocarpus wool..termite?
Definitely not scale or the usual suspects. Looks like microscopic termites. I think they where munching on the wool. Not sure,I didn't see any damage to the plant and they've been on that thing for weeks. I just dunked the whole cactus in insecticidal soaps. More paranoid for my house than the ariocarpus.
- CactusBoss
- Posts: 668
- Joined: Sat Jan 14, 2012 3:46 am
- Location: Illinois
Re: insect on ariocarpus wool..termite?
I've never heard of termites on cacti. I think they prefer wood not cacti!tudedude wrote:Definitely not scale or the usual suspects. Looks like microscopic termites. I think they where munching on the wool. Not sure,I didn't see any damage to the plant and they've been on that thing for weeks. I just dunked the whole cactus in insecticidal soaps. More paranoid for my house than the ariocarpus.
Daniel (age 25)
Zone 5a
Zone 5a
Re: insect on ariocarpus wool..termite?
yeah, I think they're too small to be termites. They're maybe a millimeter long, but kind of resemble their body shape.
- CactusBoss
- Posts: 668
- Joined: Sat Jan 14, 2012 3:46 am
- Location: Illinois
Re: insect on ariocarpus wool..termite?
I'd go look under Pests & Diseases and see what to do about scale insects cause that's what I think they are. Does the cactus have any sort of scarring on it? They could also be mealy bugs but I can't tell without a picture. Sorry. It may not be anything major either idk
Daniel (age 25)
Zone 5a
Zone 5a
Re: insect on ariocarpus wool..termite?
Hi all! Sorry if this is hitting on an older post, but I have termites in my raised bed.
Last year my roommates and I built a very cheap raised bed with some treated and some untreated. I was weeding and hand tilling the soil the other day and I noticed termites in the untreated wood. I was very much concerned and was going through some of the sites like http://www.pestremovalguide.com/termite-infestation/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; , http://citybugs.tamu.edu/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; to get an solution to the termite menace.
I'm wondering how concerned I should be about my vegetables (assortment of tomatoes, peppers, and squash) I am about to plant in that bed. I've been getting a bit overwhelmed with all the info out there, some saying not to worry about them attacking plants others saying termites eating only dead cellulose it a common misnomer.
Also, any safe/organic ways to kill these buggers? I've read some mixed reviews on borax.
Thank you for any insight!
Regards
Lisa..
Last year my roommates and I built a very cheap raised bed with some treated and some untreated. I was weeding and hand tilling the soil the other day and I noticed termites in the untreated wood. I was very much concerned and was going through some of the sites like http://www.pestremovalguide.com/termite-infestation/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; , http://citybugs.tamu.edu/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; to get an solution to the termite menace.
I'm wondering how concerned I should be about my vegetables (assortment of tomatoes, peppers, and squash) I am about to plant in that bed. I've been getting a bit overwhelmed with all the info out there, some saying not to worry about them attacking plants others saying termites eating only dead cellulose it a common misnomer.
Also, any safe/organic ways to kill these buggers? I've read some mixed reviews on borax.
Thank you for any insight!
Regards
Lisa..
- adetheproducer
- Posts: 1576
- Joined: Tue Sep 03, 2013 4:15 pm
- Location: Porth, the Rhondda, Wales
Re: insect on ariocarpus wool..termite?
Miight be springtails I get them on my cacti a lot. Here is the best picture I could get, the keep moving.
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And as the walls come down and as I look in your eyes
My fear begins to fade recalling all of the times
I have died and will die.
It's all right.
I dont mind
I dont mind.
I DONT MIND
My fear begins to fade recalling all of the times
I have died and will die.
It's all right.
I dont mind
I dont mind.
I DONT MIND
Re: insect on ariocarpus wool..termite?
I also thought, that you could be dealing with spring tails, insect family Collembola. These are pale grey very small insects, that mostly just feed on decaying organic matter. There are a few plant feeders among them too, but I have yet to encounter any of those.
The other kind of spring tails are pretty common in soil.
Harald
The other kind of spring tails are pretty common in soil.
Harald