Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So far I have been lucky and have not had any issues with mites in my roach colonies. *knock on wood* However I am aware that when I buy or trade for new species or even add to exisiting colonies I take the chance of getting mites along with the roaches. So I guess my questions are:

1.) What exactly do these mites look like? What should I look for while newly acquired roaches are in quarantine?

2.) How big are the mites? Can you actually see them move or do they look more like dust particles just sitting on the roaches?

I heard things you can do to prevent outbreaks are:

-use well ventilated enclosures
-if misting is a must, mist very lightly and try to avoid the substrate and housing quarters
-place dry feed and produce on plates
-use bottom heat as this helps dry out the substrate but still allowing humidity in the enclosure

Do you know of any more suggestions? I would like to take as many preventative measures as possible instead of not worrying about it and one day walking into a infestation. Prevention seems easier to handle then trying to rid 7 (95 quart) bins from tiny mites! Yikes! Thanks, Lindsay

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>>1.) What exactly do these mites look like? What should I look for while newly acquired roaches are in quarantine?
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>>2.) How big are the mites? Can you actually see them move or do they look more like dust particles just sitting on the roaches?

Yes, mites look like mites.....like on reptiles or mammals but maybe a bit harder to see on dark insects. My son had some giant centapedes a couple years ago and they had mites. Pepper flecks that move is the best description. And they tend to be in the joints of the hosts.

Other than the centipedes, that came with them, I haven't had any mites.
Someone on the AOL boards treated her hissers for them by dusting them with flour and totally changing out the cages a couple weeks in a row. Obviously stuff that kills bugs kills the host bug too so you gotta go easy on treatments.
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Sonya

Haven't we warned you about tampering with the structure of a chaotic system?
Mrs. Neutron

I think I have a ton of mites in my mealworm colony. The potato looks like it's covered with moving sawdust. Will they infest my leopard geckos? Do I need to toss the whole colony or what do I do?
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1.3.0 leos, Yoda, Geo, Tang, Ginger
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink Indigo (Indy)
0.1.1 frogs Buffy the Cricket Slayer, Butrose Butrose Froggy
1.1.4 firebelly newts Wayne Newton, Isaac Newton, Fig Newton, Juice Newton, Olivia Newton John & Helmut Newton
1.1.0 cats Gus & Mena