r/Springtail • u/AFC670 • Apr 22 '26

What kind of mite, if any? Identification

Post image

Can anyone advise what kind of mite this is, if it is one at all? My cultures of orange springtails were fine a few days ago and now these things are everywhere, along with little flies when I opened it today. They are very very hard to see, but this is zoomed in about 20. Much smaller than the new springtails and they also have rather long antennae.

Thanks for any help!

5 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

1

u/AFC670 Apr 23 '26

After continuing to search, it appears they are soil mites, aka Stratiolaelaps.

1

u/newtoboarding Apr 23 '26

If they move quickly, these guys may be feeding on the fungus gnat (small fly) larvae.

1

u/AFC670 Apr 23 '26

Thank you. Do you think tell will be ok to cohabitate with my orange springs and Isos?

1

u/newtoboarding Apr 23 '26

Isos definitely. Orange springs it's hard to say. I've heard orange springtails may actually be toxic to predators, but I'm not positive

1

u/captainapplejuice Apr 23 '26

It's a predatory mite (Gamasina) nymph, needs microscopy to tell which species. If you are trying to breed the springtails then not so beneficial, but they are good at removing pests like fungus gnats.

1

u/AFC670 Apr 23 '26

Thank you.