Post by Paul on Jun 2, 2005 4:20:58 GMT
Hi,
I bought some predatory mites (Hyposaspis miles) to see if they would do the job. Indications are that it is working or has helped certainly.
Have a look here for information about them:
www.biconet.com/biocontrol/hypoaspis.html
But, I still have some alive and I need to somehow catch a problematic mite and place it with the predatory ones. Trouble is, this is very, very hard, and now they have been introduced it is hard to tell which are which. I found a snail with mites on today but they were much bigger than the ones I had found previously so I think they are predatory ones. I need time to check this out. I'm just rambling while the idea is in my head.
They do feed on fungus gnat larvae and thrips so they may be beneficial in keeping flies down, which a lot of people seem to suffer from. One specimen of these identified by Morgan's entomologist friend was a phorid fly. It remains to be seen if they will kill these. (Sterilising soil every 7 days will rid you of these coz their gestation period or lifecycle is longer).
I will attempt to solve this. If anyone has mites in great quantity, the small ones that run fast over your snail's shell, and you can get them into a container, send me them. I will do a controlled test with the Hyposaspis mites to prove they eat them.
If they do, we may have a possible treatment, they run on and over the snails freely and are supposed to be harmless to all life bigger than small bugs.
Having said that, I have a snail currently that has retracted in its shell and looks unwell, it isn't eating much. But I didn't find any mites. I have added some more mites just in case. Now, it may not be pest related but if it is, then perhaps the Hypoaspis mites don't work for the type that causes this. And many people report mites as unsightly rather than problematic. Although there is one type of mite that is very bad for them.
If Hypoaspis don't work there are Nematodes that may do the job:
www.biconet.com/biocontrol/nemas.html
If it was mites, then why is only one snail in that tank suffering? He obviously hasn't eaten much, he retracts further and is kind of twisted a little. The body is less water-fat and he seems weak. I have tried to tempt him with various foods. Tomorrow I will try again.
I'm keeping a close eye on him, i'd love to know what causes it, if it is mite related or parasite related or just a virus or illness.
paul
I bought some predatory mites (Hyposaspis miles) to see if they would do the job. Indications are that it is working or has helped certainly.
Have a look here for information about them:
www.biconet.com/biocontrol/hypoaspis.html
But, I still have some alive and I need to somehow catch a problematic mite and place it with the predatory ones. Trouble is, this is very, very hard, and now they have been introduced it is hard to tell which are which. I found a snail with mites on today but they were much bigger than the ones I had found previously so I think they are predatory ones. I need time to check this out. I'm just rambling while the idea is in my head.
They do feed on fungus gnat larvae and thrips so they may be beneficial in keeping flies down, which a lot of people seem to suffer from. One specimen of these identified by Morgan's entomologist friend was a phorid fly. It remains to be seen if they will kill these. (Sterilising soil every 7 days will rid you of these coz their gestation period or lifecycle is longer).
I will attempt to solve this. If anyone has mites in great quantity, the small ones that run fast over your snail's shell, and you can get them into a container, send me them. I will do a controlled test with the Hyposaspis mites to prove they eat them.
If they do, we may have a possible treatment, they run on and over the snails freely and are supposed to be harmless to all life bigger than small bugs.
Having said that, I have a snail currently that has retracted in its shell and looks unwell, it isn't eating much. But I didn't find any mites. I have added some more mites just in case. Now, it may not be pest related but if it is, then perhaps the Hypoaspis mites don't work for the type that causes this. And many people report mites as unsightly rather than problematic. Although there is one type of mite that is very bad for them.
If Hypoaspis don't work there are Nematodes that may do the job:
www.biconet.com/biocontrol/nemas.html
If it was mites, then why is only one snail in that tank suffering? He obviously hasn't eaten much, he retracts further and is kind of twisted a little. The body is less water-fat and he seems weak. I have tried to tempt him with various foods. Tomorrow I will try again.
I'm keeping a close eye on him, i'd love to know what causes it, if it is mite related or parasite related or just a virus or illness.
paul
