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Pest/parasite?

Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2020 12:44 am
by Max_I
I saw a part of atiny little worm like creature in the sphagnum that was actually the same exact color as the spaghnum too, and when I dug around for it I couldn’t find anything. Does anyone have any ideas? I’m scared that whatever this is will spread to my other plants.

Re: Pest/parasite?

Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2020 12:52 am
by mcgrumpers
Google image search for "fungus that larvae". Did it look like that?

Re: Pest/parasite?

Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2020 2:15 am
by Shadowtski
fungus gnat larvae?

Re: Pest/parasite?

Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2020 1:12 pm
by Panman
Nematode?

Re: Pest/parasite?

Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2020 4:20 pm
by Max_I
Panman wrote: Sun Jun 07, 2020 1:12 pmNematode?
I think this is probably what It was, or a fungal larvae. Should I repot immediately If this is the case?

Re: Pest/parasite?

Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2020 4:22 pm
by Max_I
Shadowtski wrote: Sun Jun 07, 2020 2:15 am fungus gnat larvae?
It did look like that although maybe a little smaller and more slender but makes a lot of sense that this particular plant would have them due to decomposing medium even when I first got the plant. Thanks for the suggestion, what should I do?

Re: Pest/parasite?

Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2020 4:51 pm
by Shadowtski
Fungus gnat larvae feed on dead and decaying organic material.
I consider them neutral to beneficial bugs.
I see a lot of them end up as lunch on seedling Pings and Drosera.
Plus the adults are mind-numbingly stupid and seem to exist only to fly onto my Sundews and feed the plants.

I doubt they are causing any trouble to your plant.
Take it outside and flush the growing media several times with fresh rain water or distilled water.
Not a Nepenthes expert, this is just my 02¢ worth.

Re: Pest/parasite?

Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2020 4:57 pm
by Max_I
Okay thanks for the info, I thought that they liked moisture though

Re: Pest/parasite?

Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2020 5:49 pm
by Shadowtski
Max_I wrote: Sun Jun 07, 2020 4:57 pm Okay thanks for the info, I thought that they liked moisture though
The plant and the bugs both like moisture.
I suggested flushing the media to rinse it in case any minerals or decay compounds were building up.
When peat or Sphagnum break down, sometimes Humic Acid is produced which turns the growth point of some plants Black.

Re: Pest/parasite?

Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2020 6:13 pm
by Max_I
Okay thanks, would this still deal with the nematodes though? They looked more like that.

Re: Pest/parasite?

Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2020 7:01 pm
by Shadowtski
Max_I wrote: Sun Jun 07, 2020 6:13 pm Okay thanks, would this still deal with the nematodes though? They looked more like that.
I never had problems with nematodes so I know very little about them.