"Pic-Of-The-Week" newchickmom09 - White Vinca Blooms
TheEasyGarden - Gardening Forum / Compost Bugs ?

TheEasyGarden - Gardening Forum

Easy - Fun - Fulfilling... How Gardening Should Be

You are not logged in.

#1 04/27/2008 5:01 pm

Nifty
Administrator
From: Zone: 8B - Bay Area CA
Registered: 11/13/2007
Posts: 440
Website
View Personal Page

Compost Bugs ?

I've discovered millions (literally) of tiny tiny little bugs in my raised vegetable bed.  They go crazy when I water.   I think they are from the compost since they aren’t on any of our new plants.  Check them out:

http://www.nifty-stuff.com/wp/uploads/2008/04/compost-bugs.jpg

They almost look a mix between an aphid, termite, and lice.

Any idea what they are?   Again, my plants are super healthy and they aren't on the plants.   I used a LOT of compost in this raised bed, so my thought is (hoping) that they are bugs that only eat dead / decaying matter.


Zone: 8B

Offline

 

#2 04/27/2008 5:36 pm

Dawn419
Sprout
Registered: 11/21/2007
Posts: 47

Re: Compost Bugs ?

Could they be Springtails?

I was cleaning under the rabbit hutches yesterday and must have disturbed thousands of Sow bugs/pill bugs...the chickens ate good. wink


Dawn


zone: Twilight
Middle TN

Offline

 

#3 04/27/2008 8:58 pm

patandchickens
Deeply Rooted
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: 11/23/2007
Posts: 2295

Re: Compost Bugs ?

They could be several things, but springtails (Collembolans) would be my first guess, too... there is something to the doofusy-looking set of their antennae that says springtail to me. Check them out up close ... if you poke at or threaten one, does it suddenly vanish without warning? If so, it is a springtail wink

Pat

Last edited by patandchickens (04/27/2008 8:59 pm)


Canadian zone 5b (=USDA zone 4)... or a bit colder. And in a swamp. With lots of wind.

Offline

 

Board footer

Show recent posts

Powered by PunBB
© Copyright 2002–2005 Rickard Andersson

BackYardChickens.com  |  TheEasyGarden.com   |  SufficientSelf.com  |  BackYardHerds.com  |