Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This is the 5th time I have had an infestation of those little grayish things, I think they are grain mites??? I asked about them a while ago, and someone said they were harmless to my dragons, but they were killing the superworms. Now they aren't bothering the worms, they are just there. This is a shippment from ReptileFood.com, they were put into a BRAND NEW rubbermaid container. I dont want them spreading to my mealies or my roaches.
HELP!!

FireDrake

...or book lice, if you wish to call them that. I've been doing a lot of research on these guys since I ended up with them too.

They are little teeny spider/mites that live all over the world, in everyone's houses. They eat paper, bug carcases, etc...They're one of the clean-up crew. LOL! The point is, that there is no way to be completely rid of them, but you can do a few things to reduce their numbers (back to the point where you just don't see them anymore).

They move into our mealworm colonies because we provide a great breeding ground for them...Since we give them mealworm sheddings and adequate moisture, they reproduce so fast, we don't see what hit us.

What you will need to do is put a slices of potato in there and change them out several times a day. The mites will climb on the potato every time you put in a new potato slice, you can remove that many more. Each time you remove a mite covered potato slice, tie it in a plastic bag and throw away outside. Within a few days, you'll see a drastic reduction in these critters. Once you've brought down their numbers, make sure the mealworm colony stays dry-ish. The mealies do not need very much moisture all all.

there was more moisture in the supers than the mealies, I will remember that.

Thankyou!!

FireDrake

If you don't provide them with enough, they'll start eating their bin-mates to get it.

Has anybody tried keeping their mealies in a contianer inside another shallow one of water? I have been told this works and have used it in an attempt to isolate infested containers, seems to work fairly well but I only get mealies every once in a while as a treat so I don't have a continuous environment to attract the mites.

I know they are not a real big problem but at the same time I don't want to create a nuisance for myself in the future should I choose to start breeding them.
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Russ

Mites. fun fun

Some how my reptile area/ fish tanks area became infested this summer....... dont see them now... but i bet they come back like crazy... they were everywhere. little tiny white spots that clump togther..... u can see them move..
I tried several mite killers available from local home center stores.. didnt seem to kill them in my test areas.
I took them to N.C.S.U. bug department they said they were Tyrophagus putrescentiae (can't read handwritting). I wasnt given any good ideas on getting rid of them..... just reduce humidity.....
I saw the 1st small area of them several years ago...... alittle more the next. then an explosion....... covering 500 to 600 sqft of stuff....... they were on everything... i had several boxes of meal worms/ super worms.... i just thru them away as they were really in that....

I hope they go away.... but i am afriad that when spring hits.... I might have to just use a flame thrower on them ....

The idea of the flame thrower isn't all that bad - LOL -

True story - I had a parasitology professor that routinely took one to his back yard (actually he flagged everywhere his puppies pooped and each week went out and scorched a 9 inch area around the flags) He claimed that with some parasites it was the only way to get rid of them.
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Russ