Tiny brown bugs eating roots - Ask Extension
I have these tiny brown bugs eating roots of my pumpkin squash and zucchini plants, in turn stopping the flow of water to the plant and slowly killing...
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Tiny brown bugs eating roots #869081
Asked May 19, 2024, 9:46 AM EDT
I have these tiny brown bugs eating roots of my pumpkin squash and zucchini plants, in turn stopping the flow of water to the plant and slowly killing it. They appear to have spread to at least one pepper plant as well. Please help with identification and treatment. Plants are in raised containers. They are about 1mm in size and seem to tunnel through the roots.
DeKalb County Georgia
Expert Response
The little brown, oval objects are what we call seed mites in the family Orbatidae. These are usually associated with decaying plant material and would not be the cause of the problems you are having. They are merely feeding on the dead or dying plant materials.
I suspect you may have to send a plant into a plant diagnostic clinic to determine any pathogen that may be involved. I see that the University of Georgia offers several such services. Their information is located at: https://plantpath.caes.uga.edu/extension/plant-disease-clinics.html
Most of these clinics have a phone number which you can call to discuss what kind of sample they would need to have the best chance of a obtaining a good diagnosis.
The black, elongate objects may be the spore bodies of one of the fungal pathogens that can attack vegetable plants. Most of these pathogens get started when there is wet, poorly drained soils. Squash and cucumbers can be very sensitive to too much soil moisture and quickly acquire root or vascular diseases.
I suspect you may have to send a plant into a plant diagnostic clinic to determine any pathogen that may be involved. I see that the University of Georgia offers several such services. Their information is located at: https://plantpath.caes.uga.edu/extension/plant-disease-clinics.html
Most of these clinics have a phone number which you can call to discuss what kind of sample they would need to have the best chance of a obtaining a good diagnosis.
The black, elongate objects may be the spore bodies of one of the fungal pathogens that can attack vegetable plants. Most of these pathogens get started when there is wet, poorly drained soils. Squash and cucumbers can be very sensitive to too much soil moisture and quickly acquire root or vascular diseases.
