5 replies to this topic

[Koreant]

Recently I had a grain mite plague in my mealworm container, which was on the same table as my Ectomomyrmex javanus tubs & tubes setup. I got rid of the old container, and moved all the mealworms into a new one while checking every single one with under a microscope for hitchhikers. Then I practically nuked the table with 3 layers of alcohol to kill any remaining survivors. I didn't see any mites around and I was happy.

 

Until today.

 

My smart [censored] though that increasing the humidity level of my tubs and tubes setup would be a gr8 idea. I was wrong. I woke up to one of my enclosure's test tube INFESTED with grain mites. I know that they feed off decaying matter but they multiply in the speed of light, and what I don't want is another infestation taking place in my room. It seems like the spike in humidity was the thing that drew the mites in to live. And i heard that once you get them, you never really can get rid of them completely. They still are considered household pests, and I want to keep their numbers to a minimum.

 

1. Will these guys disturb my queen and her eggs? they both are very sensitive.

2. Is there a quick and easy way to dehydrate the setup to control their growth while not disturbing the queen to much?

I live in south korea and it's gonna rain for the next 4 days.

3. Is there a good way to get rid of them without introducing predatory mites?

 

finally, what is the best course of action I could take to stop this as soon as I can?

 

Thank you all in advance.

[AntsDakota]

I would suggest moving the colony into a new test tube/nest, yet you should urge them so you can disconnect their setups before mites get into the new setup as well. I don't think dehydrating their current setup is a good idea, as it could endanger the colony as well. However I doubt the mites would harm the ants in any significant way, though.

[AnthonyP163]

You could try to get some predatory mites. This could be Hypoaspis sp. or some other mites. Predatory mites are usually the fast ones. Beware that they will eat anything that's smaller than them, moving or undefended, so if you have springtails I suggest you keep the mites away from them. After the grain mites are gone, there will probably be very minimal predatory mites left, and they need wet soil to reproduce in most species, so they are unlikely to survive outside of your setups. I'm not sure if this would entirely solve the problem, but they annihilate any mites and springtails in my setups. 

[Koreant]

Thank you all for the replies, but introducing predatory mites aren't really an option for me as it is quite hard to get in my area. 

 

The inhabitants of the setup are only the queen and eggs, and she has no workers or brood yet. But i am concerned about her being stressed out......

[Manitobant]

Thank you all for the replies, but introducing predatory mites aren't really an option for me as it is quite hard to get in my area. 
 
The inhabitants of the setup are only the queen and eggs, and she has no workers or brood yet. But i am concerned about her being stressed out......

if it's just a queen then just detach the test tube and get a new outworld.

[Koreant]

I will replace the old container, but most of the mites are lingering around inside the queen's test tube. So I do think they might multiply in other setups. Should I at least give it a go?