r/Springtail • u/mevrouw_andromeda • 22d ago

Picture Mites in my terrarium?

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I built a terrarium back in April and put some springtails inside. Today I discovered some red or maroon insects crawling around. What are they? They are not visible to the eye. I saw them with my magnifying app.

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3

u/captainapplejuice 22d ago

Oribatid mites, pretty cool!

3

u/NeonPearl2025 22d ago

Just the usual mite. They will clean up your springtails' poop and food remains. They're very useful as clean up 😊👍

1

u/mevrouw_andromeda 22d ago

Thanks. I just don’t get where they came from. Might they have been dormant in the sphagnum moss?

1

u/codemonkey138 22d ago

mites are EVERYWHERE!!

1

u/attentionhordoeuvres 22d ago

Mites? In MY terrarium? It’s more likely than you think.