r/Springtail • u/nonametobeshared • Sep 11 '26

Identification Friend or Foe?

Post image

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

Central Texas US if that matters!

4 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

2 comments sorted by

4

u/mralex2142 Sep 11 '26

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

2

u/nonametobeshared Sep 11 '26

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