> Date: Wed, 19 Sep 2001 15:14:04 -0400
> From: Camille Thompson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>
> Ok, I know they don't technically have heads, per
> se...
> I just was cleaning out my cricket tank in preparation
> for putting in the next shipment and noticed that the
> dust on the cricket cage was...moving. Not all of it,
> put ALOT of it. And the pile-up of dust behind the
> tank, against the wall. And my small cricket cage,
> and my cockroach cage (haven't checked the superworms
> yet.)
> The new shipment of crix has been sitting a few feet
> away from it for several hours. The "dust" seems to
> congregate mostly around dead crix & veggies. I don't
> know how long they've been there since there is a
> regular accumulation of real (inanimate) dust (OK, I
> besides dust mites) every week, so I didn't think
> anything about it until I looked closely.
> My critters are in the next room, but of course they
> have all been eating crix. What should I do? Do I
> need to clean out all my critters' cages? How can you
> completely get rid of mites? CAN you completely get
> rid of mites? How do I get rid of the ones in with my
> roaches & crix?
There are a zillion species of mites, and they have a lot of different
lifestyles. While some are parasitic on animals or plants, many others
make their livings by helping to break down dead organic matter. Your
mites are almost certainly of that type, so your critters are safe.
I don't think you can completely get rid of them as long as you provide
them with conditions they like, but you don't need to. I get tiny bran-
colored mites in my mealworm cultures sometimes, and reducing the humidity
by leaving the tops open reduces the population significantly. They don't
seem to do any harm to the mealworms.
> HELP!
I hope this helps!
> (suddenly I feel the need to take a shower...)
:-)
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