Alternative Means of Mite Control
I've been battling a mite problem for the past two years. Since I realized I had a problem, I've been looking for alternative methods of mite control. I got some Biosoil from Formicanada that included predatory mites, and they did a good job of reducing mite numbers. But I've run out of Biosoil, so I've been looking for alternatives. One of the alternatives to predatory mites that I think was in the Biosoil were very small snails. I found them in a couple of colonies, and I know they're carnivorous because they join my ants in the feeding tray to eat meat. I don't think they eat mites, but I'm hopeful they're eating mite eggs, which is almost as good. I apologize for not being able to supply you with Latin names or any kind of ID for these alternatives, you may have different ones in your area anyways, just consider the concept. There may be alternative predators for mite control.
This year I realized a Myrmica colony had mites, so I quarantined them in the greenhouse where I don't keep any other ants. I accidently didn't put the lid on their container very well and it was partly open the first night. A lot of the mites got out - hurray! The ants were tucked in for the night, they probably never even noticed the lid was ajar. Early the next morning, I noticed the lid and replaced it properly. Because of the mites, I sort of gave up hope for this colony. But I threw in a couple of snails and hoped for the best. A few days later when I remembered I'd put them in the greenhouse, I went to check on them and I was about to remove the lid when I noticed what looked like a pile of dead mites. When I looked closer, I saw a very small hatchling cobweb spider had built a web on the lid and was catching mites. I don't know if they were being eaten, but at least they were being killed. Needless to say, I collected the spider and put him in the formicarium and wished him good hunting. That got me thinking about what other kinds of spiders might like to hunt mites.
Today I caught a very small jumping spider on my window screen. Just the right size for a mite hunter, and I don't think he'll be bothering the larger ants. And even if he does, I had given up on this colony anyways, so what's the harm. I know jumping spiders like to hunt things that move, a nice fat mite may be just the thing he's looking for. Last year I had a spider living with one of my Tetramorium colonies. It regularly caught ants but was never bothered by them. I hope the same will be true for my little jumping spider.
Does anyone have any other suggestions for alternative methods of mite control? I look forward to hearing about them.
RPT
