Please Identify Insects On Hedyscepe

[Jim in Los Altos]

I noticed these tiny white insects that resemble centipedes but about the size of spider mites on the bases of my three Hedescepe canterburyana this afternoon when I pulled back on a rotting old petiole base. They're pretty much only on the dead parts. Sorry for the lousy fuzzy picture. What are they and can they be harmful in any way?

[DoomsDave]

Sounds like mealybugs.

I get them now and then, and, usually, ladybugs find them and annihilate them. That's the best cure. If you don't want to wait, or it's a really bad infestation, you can treat with a systemic insecticide, or, more naturally, slather them with neem oil.

I can't remember the last time I had to pinch-hit for the ladybugs . . . .

[Jim in Los Altos]

Thanks, Dave. My photo was bad so it is hard for anyone to see those critters clearly. I've determined that they are springtails, which are microbe feeders hence them being primarily on the inside of damp dead petioles. It's funny that I've never noticed these before since they love composting material. I will leave them where they are. It's been wet and mild everyday this month and everything is drippy and slippery. We're finally going to get some warmer dry weather this week!

[DoomsDave]

Let the Ladies from Hell do their thing.

Well, not the Scotsmen . . .

[MattyB]

Way to go Jim, asking first instead of just spraying. I admire that.

[Jim in Los Altos]

Way to go Jim, asking first instead of just spraying. I admire that.

Matt, I haven't used an insecticide in years. I like things as natural as possible and, if those little white creatures had turned out to be bad, I probably would have just hosed them off. My yard's full of beneficial insects and spiders so I was surprised at first to see those little white ones in question. They're not classified as insects interestingly and live side by side with worms anywhere there's wet, rotting, plant material. I learned something new today.

[Josh-O]

Thanks, Dave. My photo was bad so it is hard for anyone to see those critters clearly. I've determined that they are springtails, which are microbe feeders hence them being primarily on the inside of damp dead petioles. It's funny that I've never noticed these before since they love composting material. I will leave them where they are. It's been wet and mild everyday this month and everything is drippy and slippery. We're finally going to get some warmer dry weather this week!

will they eventually go away on their own when the rotted palm matter is dried up or removed?? I've never seen such little critters. Its always dry down here in SD

[LJG]

Thanks Jim, I get these all the time and never knew what they were. Never looked close enough and just thought they were some fly larvae. Cool to learn something new. Googling them explains why there are so many when you find them - they reed profusely.

[MattyB]

They're voracious reeders

[Tassie_Troy1971]

Jim i knew that those Hedyscepe would explode once they got in the ground !

[Jim in Los Altos]

Jim i knew that those Hedyscepe would explode once they got in the ground !

Troy, They definitely happier in the ground than in that big ol' ceramic pot I had them in since they were tiny seedlings. I think I will be seeing some impressive trunk expansion now.

[Ken Johnson]

Just exposing them to air and sun kills them. Common on first leaves with base touching ground. Soap controls them very well.

[DoomsDave]

Thanks, Dave. My photo was bad so it is hard for anyone to see those critters clearly. I've determined that they are springtails, which are microbe feeders hence them being primarily on the inside of damp dead petioles. It's funny that I've never noticed these before since they love composting material. I will leave them where they are. It's been wet and mild everyday this month and everything is drippy and slippery. We're finally going to get some warmer dry weather this week!

Did they jump around?

[Jim in Los Altos]

Thanks, Dave. My photo was bad so it is hard for anyone to see those critters clearly. I've determined that they are springtails, which are microbe feeders hence them being primarily on the inside of damp dead petioles. It's funny that I've never noticed these before since they love composting material. I will leave them where they are. It's been wet and mild everyday this month and everything is drippy and slippery. We're finally going to get some warmer dry weather this week!

Did they jump around?

No jumping around, Dave, just kind of slithering about. Since they're harmless, actually beneficial, they get to stay right there on those wet, rotting petiole bases.

[Jim in Los Altos]

Just exposing them to air and sun kills them. Common on first leaves with base touching ground. Soap controls them very well.

Ken, being microbe feeders, they're no threat to the palms in question and will get to stay. When our weather dries a bit, I'm sure they will begin to disappear anyway.