Hi Stephane, I can just see the bug in the photo. I assume it's the little white bug. I don't think it's a mealy bug. I'm not sure what it is.... Is it causing your plant any problem or is it just an annoyance? If you can get a closer photo that might be easier to identify it. Sorry I couldn't help. Rachel

Stephane, Just saw this on an Internet search. Could it be a 'Springtail'?Springtails apparently don't have wings, but they can jump when disturbed. They are attracted to wet soil, especially in pots. Letting the soil dry out can sometimes get rid of them. If you think this is a springtail, do an Internet search for more info on how to get rid of them. Here's a photo of one. Does yours look like this??? Rachel :)

Hi Rachel and Rick,
I tried to take a better pictures but these little suckers are hard to photograph :) But I zoomed in a video I took and it sure looks like the picture you posted. White/translucent, 6 legs with 2 "antennas". I also saw a bunch of black little bugs too in the mix. I'll let the soil dry for a while and see if I can find anything on Springtail to make sure that's what I have. The Adenium is doing well, no signs of distress.

Thanks a lot!

Stephane

It does look like a springtail to me. They are perfectly harmless and even good for your soil so I wouldn't bother trying to get rid of them. BUT, as you are in the USA, just take one of your plants to your local agricultural extension office and it's FREE to get a confirmed pest ID to be sure. Or if you can get a hold of some of the little buggers you can even seal them up in a baggie and send it to them if you can't get by in person. If you call them they'll give you info.

Looks like a termite yikes! I'm a Realtor and seen many on home inspections. I'm not sure why they are in the soil of your Adenium....Could be old dead wood in the soil that they are eating on?

Hope that's not what it is.

Jeannie

A termite would normally be a lot larger if I'm seeing the scale correctly on this. Yes? This is very tiny.

Indeed, these are tiny, between 1 and 2 mm. I looked at pictures of springtail and it sure looks like it so if they are harmless to the plant, I'm ok with it. I'll keep a close eye to it just in case because i also saw tiny little black bugs too when I watered earlier. When it's not one thing, it's another, darn bugs hehe

Thanks a lot!

Stephane

Like I said, if ever in doubt, you can always go use your local agricultural extension office. It's free and that's what they are there for. Valuable resource almost none of my plant friends ever know about or bother to use but it can save you so much worry.

Hi Stephane I am from the Gold Coast Australia. We have had the worst few days with floods and rain and now my DRs are being eaten alive by spider mite, any tips would be appreciated.

thanks Maria

Can you get sulfur spray, Maria? It's the most effective I have found against mites of almost any kind. But especially spider mites. It leaves a residue on the leaves (and especially the leaf crevasses) that can still keep on killing the mites when the eggs hatch back out later. Even so you may need to give it a followup application every week or so for a bit if your plants are outside in the weather just to be really sure you kill anything that hatches from eggs later. It works way better than insecticidal soap and is not toxic to /you/ like using AVID or Forbid4, etc. Indoors I usually only need a single application as long as I get up underneath the leaves and around the growing tips really well.

You could also order natural predators for spider mites and release them into your collection but to do so you need a positive ID on the exact species attacking your plants. Here we can get a free pest ID from our agricultural extension office but I do not know if you have access to that sort of thing where you are, Maria.

Lastly, never use sulfur based products with any kind of oil based. If you have sprayed your plants with Neem oil in the last month or so then don't use sulfur. It causes phytotoxidity in plants. In that case you can use other products but you'll have to treat repeatedly every week for a while to be sure you get rid of them.

Since I started using sulfur sprays I never use any oil based products anymore just to be safe. Mostly Neem oil doesn't work as advertised anyway so it's usually a waste, IMO. Sulfur spray I use here is Ortho's 3-in-1 but I'm sure there are other kinds, or you can try using a powder and mixing your own spray. That tends to be gritty and clog sprayers however so it may need to be used as a dip or brushed on.

Sulfur sprays or dips are also hugely popular because they are great against bacteria and fungus. Not necessarily very helpful against other kinds of insects other than mites, but it's very good against mites. Good luck!

Hi Rick,

I actually tried the hydrogen peroxide and water and I'm very impressed by it. I sprayed the soil 2 days in a row and today I checked and I'm not seeing any activities at all so I'm crossing my fingers. I'll repeat this for a few more days to make sure.

Thanks guys!

Stephane