--- title: "Hey guys just wondering how can I control the number of soil mites? I…" description: "Hey guys just wondering how can I control the number of soil mites? I have an abundance of them that have spawned in over night… I read that unlike spider…" url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ/ELL5X3QgRtGyvPBcWZ9F6A?language=de" community: "Pests, diseases and problems 🇺🇸" author: "Kayde" published: "2024-05-31T23:41:47.984543Z" language: "en" image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/7tyJU5DDvRLWCO1ACvmGGopgHB7FXYENM8FPFt5yiy0/wQMO-jhaQO6Wqe9Xfqap3Q.webp?size=large" --- [Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md?language=de) / [Pests, diseases and problems 🇺🇸](https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ.md?language=de) # Hey guys just wondering how can I control the number of soil mites? I… _Gepostet von Kayde am 2024-05-31_ Hey guys just wondering how can I control the number of soil mites? I have an abundance of them that have spawned in over night… I read that unlike spider mites, soil mites are harmless and beneficial (they’re definitely soil mites as there’s none on the leaves of any of my plants but loads in the soil and my plants all seem healthy) but there’s so many of them running around the pot, it’s not a pretty sight and it’s making me itch😂 So is there a way to reduce them? Sorry for the bad photo they’re so tiny! ![Anhang 1 von 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/7tyJU5DDvRLWCO1ACvmGGopgHB7FXYENM8FPFt5yiy0/wQMO-jhaQO6Wqe9Xfqap3Q.webp?size=large) ## 11 Kommentare ### Catrabelle kommentierte am 2024-06-01 Well, I would just say to leave them alone, if there not doing any harm. If it escalates then ask someone else who knows more. Hope this helps! ### S.R kommentierte am 2024-06-01 I’ve never done it but, I have read about people making up a solution of water and insecticidal soap or water and hydrogen peroxide. You can use the solution to submerge and soak the whole plant pot soil and all, or to water I think. ### Krista kommentierte am 2024-06-01 Can you get a better picture of an individual? They might not be soil mites but may be springtails, which are good to have. Based on the blurred image when I zoom in, they do seem more like mites, but it may be good to know for sure. To tell the difference, mites are rounder with 8 legs and no antenna because they are arachnids. Springtails are more rice-shaped and have antenna. #### Kayde antwortete am 2024-06-02 I can’t get a closer picture of them but I think they might actually be springtails then tbh, these have really long antenna, that’s the only thing I can distinguish about them😂 #### Kayde antwortete am 2024-06-02 Here’s a better pic, they definitely have antenna but they also seem rounder than rice like so idk ahah ![Anhang 1 von 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/7tyJU5DDvRLWCO1ACvmGGopgHB7FXYENM8FPFt5yiy0/8NowW6zLRRCm4VeynlYk3Q.webp?size=large) #### Krista antwortete am 2024-06-02 Hmm. Definitely not a mite for sure with the long antenna, but the body shape is a tiny bit round for a springtail. I can ask my son when he wakes up. He works as an invertebrate keeper at the New Orleans Insectarium and is the bigger expert. He should be up sometime in the next 3 hours 😆… it’s his day off. #### Kayde antwortete am 2024-06-02 That’s what I was thinking! There’s an abundance of them just crawling the soil - they don’t go up on my plants at all they stay on the soil or climb around the plastic pots so I’m very unsure, thank you so much! A little lie in is due for him then😂 #### Krista antwortete am 2024-06-02 Ok, so I got his opinion and he confirmed what I had researched earlier: that there are globular springtails that are more round. They seem a bit bigger than regular springtails, but I can’t find any good info on the difference in size. Another insect it could be are root aphids. They are roundish and have 6 legs and antenna. One way you can try to tell for sure is that springtails got their name for a reason: they like to “spring” or jump. You can try to make them jump by gently blowing on them or putting your finger or a stick by them. Don’t worry, they aren’t like fleas and don’t jump far 😁. As a side note, I didn’t know this, but globular springtails are super cute ![Anhang 1 von 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/deXorcq2VXXtP14-BlwhBmSvAoGn-GONFDP3hPuOhak/udOwnUFIROqtUx_OAYIrFA.webp?size=large) _3 weitere Antworten in der App_ --- _Die Planta-Community (https://getplanta.com). Lesen ist für alle offen. Um Beiträge zu erstellen, zu kommentieren und zu liken, hol dir die Planta App: https://getplanta.com/download_