bug problem

[vivaaa]

hey ppl, sorry its my first serious grow so experiencing problems for the first time. just last night i realised a bug flying around in my grow room, i only noticed 1 but could be 2 of them in there, the bug is very small and mainly hangs around at the base of the plant the bug sort of resembles a midge. im not 100% sure of how many are in there or the breed of bug are there any safe pesticides i can use as a precaution? i am mid way through flowering so i assume i would be a little more limited to what i could use?

 

thanks fellas

[everest]

i'd pull em off ya plant , spray base with a bit of neam oil see if that squashes em

 

ev

[thc24]

sounds like scarid fly, small numbers are not really a problem if in flower you can control these guys by spraying pots and floor of room, if you have them right from the start of veg it may be worth treating the plants. first remove any rotting leaves and 1cm of top soil then spray new top soil with a general bug spray lorsban to confidor type product(only in Veg) add more soil if roots are exposed. likely they will come back because they are living in the soil, this is where a soil drench (or scarid fly drench) might help to get the adult larvae that WILL damage roots.

 

it sounds like you have a minor problem atm, buy a few yellow sticky traps set them up around your room under pots at pot level and at light level. after a day to a week you will have some bugs to have checked at local grow shop if cant ID online. dont walk in with fresh leaves or sticky traps not in a secure sandwich bag you may just get bitched at nobody like free bugs.

[everest]

thats what i meant to say thc gotta cut down egh

[Reverend]

http://www.uk420.com/boards/index.php?showtopic=99764

 

Some pics of bugs.

Compliments from Nitram.

[nitram]

Hi vivaaa,

 

Those s/flys don't like sticky paper

 

Those s/flys like moist mediums................

 

Those s/flys don't like neem oil (White Oil)

 

 

On ya gills spreading barts link around ........."he's a ledgin" @ UK420

 

Nitty.

[smokinjoe]

Could also be fungus gnats, treatment is still as described above

[sew850i]

not an expert on the growing part. but i once watched Jorge Cervantez ultimate grow and he said to use ladybugs because they'll eat the pests and won't affect the plantation.. again im not sure if this was for all species of bugs..

[BaronS]

having a number of flying things in my cupboard that I now believe are fungus gnats, also known as scarid flies, I suggest the aforementioned 'pest strips' (sticky bits of yellow plastic) are a decent control mechanism.

 

IF the beasts are fungus gnats you need to interupt their lifecycle.

 

EGGS are on the leaves and require a microscope (purchased from ebay for AU$14, inspired by a 3rd party reference to Madame Pandora's recommendation) to see. 'White Oil' has an adverse effect on the eggs but I think I used too much, to the detriment of my grow. Neem oil was suggested and may be 'easier' on the plants.

JUVENILES also walk around the leaves eating them and sucking sap (rotten little thieves) resulting in initially white spots and eventually necrotic areas. Again, the oils will slow them down if not kill 'em.

PUPAE are in the medium (dirt, coco, whatever) and may be a sign of keeping the media too moist.

ADULTS get stuck on sticky strips.

 

The freaky thing about Fungus Gnats is that a single UNFERTILISED female will lay eggs. The eggs from her will ALL be male. She and her offspring will then have an orgy (actually, pretty sure the kids take turns fertilising mum) to establish a colony, and the resulting progeny will be of mixed sex.

 

interrupt the lifecycle at any point and they are no longer a problem.

 

NOTE: I still have occasional adults.

NOTE2: I'm growing in soil and believe the existence of these pests indicates overwatering. Since backing off on watering the incidence of adults has decreased.

[BaronS]

and yes

 

Lady Bugs or other predatory insects can be used.