Your creatures are most probably oribatid mites, some are known as
beetle mites. Most are fungus feeders, many are feed on decaying
organic matter (probably getting nutrition from fungi and bacteria,
others may be predators. Around cultivated plants it is usually the
fungivore species that predominate. Oribatid mites are quite valuable
indicators of conditions conducive to fungal and algal growth, and leaf
and floral surface fungal bodies; they may well be helping clean your
plants and enhance floral beauty. Insecticides do amazing things for
plants, including aiding the development of nontarget organisms that
have resistance. As to aesthetics, many oribatids are exceeding
handsome and amazing, its just a visual problem usually having to do
with a lack of magnification; a loop being insufficient. To get rid of
oribatids, lower the humidity, quit misting so often, and use a
fungicide.
pj
On 12 Mar 2005, at 12:47 PM, Peter Hirsch wrote:
Can anyone help us eradicate a tiny (fraction of a millimeter) black
beetle that is infesting our greenhouse? To the naked eye they look
like large grains of soot. They appear beetle-like under a jeweler's
loop. Sevin seems to kill colonies that appear on flower buds, but
they reappear on the next plant with buds. There is no clear sign
that they do damage, but they're certainly not an enhancement to
beauty.
Peter and Marie
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the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD)
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http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
