roach-mite Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 Hello! I am acarologist - that's mean, I am working with mites. Main group of my interest is Mesostigmata mites. BUT - I very like cockroaches, and have several species as pets. I have found and identified some mite species related to cocroaches. Probably some of you also have found them on cockroaches ? Some groups are parasites, but some are just "passengers" on roaches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arachyd Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 Hello! Welcome to the forum I've had problems with mites in my roach enclosures in the past. Lots of people are looking for information about mites but it is not always easy to find good information. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roach-mite Posted April 22, 2009 Author Share Posted April 22, 2009 Thank You for Your message. Do You still have mites on Your roaches ? What kind of problems they do to Your roaches ? I am interested in collecting mites associated with roaches, diplopods, scorpions........... If You could tell me more about those mites, and, if you have them, send some mites to me, then perhaps I could tell You more. There are no much literature on that , You are right. Therefore this is more interesting for me. Ineta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arachyd Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 I believe they are a type of grain mite. The only damage they have done is to the food I give the roaches. They used to swarm over it and turn it to dust. I bought some predatory mites, H. miles, to control them and added a colony of isopods to clean up leftover food and mite eggs. I also started letting the enclosure dry out more with a small water dish for the roaches. Instead of misting the entire enclosure I just water the plants enough to keep them alive. It has worked very well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skips Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 I believe they are a type of grain mite. The only damage they have done is to the food I give the roaches. They used to swarm over it and turn it to dust. I bought some predatory mites, H. miles, to control them and added a colony of isopods to clean up leftover food and mite eggs. I also started letting the enclosure dry out more with a small water dish for the roaches. Instead of misting the entire enclosure I just water the plants enough to keep them alive. It has worked very well. did that work for you. I'm having the same problem. Did the H. miles make a difference? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arachyd Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 They definitely helped. I think the combination of H. miles, isopods and periods of dryness was what finally worked to keep the mites in check. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roach-mite Posted April 27, 2009 Author Share Posted April 27, 2009 Well, yes, I think that dryness should help, because as I know from my expierence, mites like wet conditions. of course, extreme water amount is not ok as well, but they cann't survive in dry conditions. As well as food , especialy not fresh food of cockroaches very like various mites. So, from my cockroach keeping expierence I know, that it is better more frequent cleaning of terariums. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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