Hello, I recently discovered these tiny mites/insects in my indoor potted Meyer lemon tree. They are very fast moving and there are ALOT of them. This plant has been struggling on/off for the past few months, are these beneficial mites or root aphids or something else? Should I be concerned? If so, any recommended treatment? They are so small it is hard to capture them on camera, but they are very small, maybe the size of a poppy seed or slightly larger. They are fast-moving and do not have wings. Relatively long antennae but I cannot tell if there are 6 or 8 legs. Please see the following video for better visualization. This plant has a lot of sentimental value so I am not willing to part with it easily. I appreciate any help available!
Perhaps you can capture one using a piece of transparent tape. You can then have a closer look at it and count the number of legs and such. Also, is your tree showing any signs of stress or damage?
Look like springtails (Collembola). They are harmful. You can get rid of them by adjusting watering regime, and by taking some other measures. Google for details. Springtail - Wikipedia How to Get Rid of Springtails | Planet Natural
Thank you for your reply! The tape was a good suggestion! I can see now that they have 6 legs, here is a picture of a few of them with a penny for scale. Any thoughts? My tree recently dropped a lot of leaves with some small black/grey spots on the underside (~3 weeks ago). The spots were not mold and could not be wiped off. I frequently check the tree for scale and leaf insects and I haven't observed any for the past few months. It is now in full bloom. Thanks again for your help!
Thank you for your suggestion! I have had springtails in other plants in the past and these bugs don't have the same jumping-like activity. They also seem to be more brown and stubbier than the springtails I had before, do you think they are likely still springtails? Thanks again!
What is that tan colored material on top of the soil in the photo? Is is fungal? It looks like small piles of sawdust.
I keep seeing to leave springtails (in houseplant groups) (predatory bug or something?) Can you tell me more about why they aren't good? I had some as well I think.
It appears they are not that bad: What are springtails and what are they doing in your soil? | in rice County | Extension County Offices | UMN Extension Springtails Management Guidelines--UC IPM
Sorry, I don't understand your question (especially: why you asked that from me), I am not a native English speaker. Why they aren't good? I don't divide these creatures either into bad or good category. They are part of soil fauna. They may become nuisance, if there is massive infestation, but usually they are no problem at all. You can control their number by just keeping proper watering regime.
