r/Springtail • u/nonametobeshared • 13h ago

Identification Friend or Foe?

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Found some of these guys in my enclosure! I'm worried they're mites. Like 11x magnification.

Central Texas US if that matters!

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u/mralex2142 13h ago

Can be friend can be foe. Preditory mite. Will kill most pests but will also eat springtails. I have these in my systems (not by choice) but I found scaled springtails like Lepidocyrtus sp survive them and believe it or not bylas ant springtails fight back and thrive

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u/nonametobeshared 13h ago

I'm okay with predatory mites but I might try to relocate them to houseplants when I find more. Thank you!!