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Bug ID?

I started using a new compost about 2 weeks ago, I think there was some insect eggs in it. I've got these little black bugs in the tent. They're mostly in the soil. A few were on the stalks but they don't seem to be up in the leaves/buds. If anybody can ID these I'd appreciate the help. I'm not sure if I should do anything about them or if they're harmless.

2 answers2 replies

Comments (4)

mwhite9829

Nov 05, 2021

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It does look like a rove beetle but if they are flying then I'd say no, they don't fly. I have a bunch of these every year in my outdoor organic garden. Inside they end up all over the house. I don't know your situation but my wife would move immediately leaving all her belongings if they were in the house 😂. They are beneficial bugs being they eat other insects and decaying organic material. They're just really ugly lol. Outdoors I've seen them all the time but not crawling around much on my plants. If they are crawling all over your plants I'd guess they've either found other insects, or there is nothing there to eat and they are roaming to find something, Hench end up all over the house lol. If they are searching food and crawling all over I'd pick them as I see them and toss them outside, if you gardens or flower beds put them there.

theWilly

Nov 06, 2021

Replying to

@mwhite9829 once I had a positive ID as a type of rove beetle I was able to find a lot more info. They do fly as adults, though not very well. These things are tiny, that's what had me initially thinking thrips, they're soooo small. My pic with the circle surrounded by black is taken under a handheld microscope. They fly up toward the light and get stuck in the trichs, mostly on leaf tips up in the colas. They're not crawling on the buds, just a few stuck here and there and they're usually dead by the time I find them. I pinch them out as I see them but they seem to be on the decline now. I only found 2 or 3 last night. There's lots of reports from people talking about them getting stuck in buds indoors. They're such weak fliers I doubt they'd make it that high in the breeze outdoors.

Mr. Grow It

Nov 02, 2021

I don't think we have any bug experts on this forum unfortunately.

theWilly

Nov 04, 2021

Replying to

@Mr. Grow It here's a better pic fwiw

EDIT: I'm now pretty positive they are rove beetles. I just found this short video linked from Dude Grows. These look identical to what's crawling in my soil.

https://youtu.be/3RqMyjQwziE

The plus side is they're harmless and actually good predators to kill harmful pests. The downside is that they do fly and they get up in the buds. They're attracted to the light and it looks like they're getting stuck in the sticky trichs.