Is it RSM?
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Please respect all forum members opinions and if you can't make a civil reply, don't reply!
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Is it RSM?
Last year my mesembs were invaded by white RSM. The pests spontaneously disappeared with the summer. Now they are back, but in addition there are also similar pests, about twice-three times larger, much quicker, and brown in color. They crawl side by side. Is it a different stage of RSM life cycle, or something else?
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Re: Is it RSM?
I have no clue, but I wouldn't wait with insecticide.
TTcacti - C&S database software - http://www.ttimpact.hr/anttun/
- georged
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Re: Is it RSM?
From your photo it looks more like a beetle than a mite and could be there to feed on the mites but others may be able to give you a more definative answer.
George
Uckfield, East Sussex. Small but varied collection of cacti, succulents and a few others.
Uckfield, East Sussex. Small but varied collection of cacti, succulents and a few others.
- Diane
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Re: Is it RSM?
It is usually thought that if they are quick, they are the good guys! Your photo looks like a mite of some kind (not RSM) and they could possibly be predators.
Diane - member of Kingston branch
Growing cacti - balm to the soul!
Growing cacti - balm to the soul!
- majcka
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Re: Is it RSM?
Your pic is a little "shy" but if I see that right it should be a ladybug (is that even a right expresion) in latin it would be something from Coccinellidae family.
Does it look that way: If so, you want more of them. Thaey are predators. Eat lots of bad bugs.
Does it look that way: If so, you want more of them. Thaey are predators. Eat lots of bad bugs.
Re: Is it RSM?
My first thought was it was predatory mites. However, the population of white mites is on the rise (!), not decline. Also, I have put white mites right in front of these brown bugs hoping they would attack them. Alas, brown bugs had no interest in white mites whatsoever. I tried counting legs to figure out if they are mites or not, but it proved impossible.
I do not think they are ladybugs. My brown bugs may seem large on the photos, but in reality they are tiny, about 1/3mm. They are photographed on white paper, and you can see paper fibers.
I do not think they are ladybugs. My brown bugs may seem large on the photos, but in reality they are tiny, about 1/3mm. They are photographed on white paper, and you can see paper fibers.
- iann
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Re: Is it RSM?
They not red spider mites.
If they're what I think then they're a type of mite that feeds on algae and fungi. They don't appear to be harmful either to plants or to other mites. They would tend to suggest a soil on the moist side.
If they're what I think then they're a type of mite that feeds on algae and fungi. They don't appear to be harmful either to plants or to other mites. They would tend to suggest a soil on the moist side.
Cheshire, UK
Re: Is it RSM?
Thank you Ian! They did appear in the "wet" corner, where I keep Meyerophytum, Mitrophyllum, and Dicrocaulon plants, and Gibbaeum seedlings.
- anttisepp
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Re: Is it RSM?
Looks like harmless soil mite.Mawa wrote:<...> Now they are back, but in addition there are also similar pests, about twice-three times larger, much quicker, and brown in color. They crawl side by side. Is it a different stage of RSM life cycle, or something else?
http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/soil_mite.htm
Etelä-Karjala, Suomi-Finland
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Re: Is it RSM?
You cannot see RSM without the use of a 8X magnifying glass,( unless you have superb eyesight). So I do not think these are mites at all. Cheers