Little Critter

[HHLL38]

So I was replacing the standing water in which I keep my Phrag. Pearci and i discovered, first off a earwig looking creature, which I determined probably ate insects and was of no concern to me or my plants, and then a small, clear, twisting looking worm, fully submerged.

At the worst I think it may be a parasite of some kind, but don't really have any positive way to identify it.

Any ideas or experiences?

[Brutal_Dreamer]

So I was replacing the standing water in which I keep my Phrag. Pearci and i discovered, first off a earwig looking creature, which I determined probably ate insects and was of no concern to me or my plants, and then a small, clear, twisting looking worm, fully submerged.

At the worst I think it may be a parasite of some kind, but don't really have any positive way to identify it.

Any ideas or experiences?

Did you photograph the little guy?

cheers,
BD

[HHLL38]

I did not sadly, but I also could not find anywhere they listed common parasites/pests with pictures with which to compare to memory.

I've read the best way to deal with the problem would be to re-pot with fresh mix, but the plant's in bloom and is blooming well and I'd hate to mess with it. :\

[HHLL38]

Here's a second critter my girlfriend found, doesn't look like the first sadly.

Fantastic picture credits go to her as well.

[kiwiorchids]

Here's a second critter my girlfriend found, doesn't look like the first sadly.

Fantastic picture credits go to her as well.

These little guys are actually composting aides, and we find these amongst the decomposing plant matter that sometimes stays in the pond. The mix in your Phrags must be a bit old, and is starting to break down, so these guys move in to help break it down a bit more They are actually a bit amphibious, but i have only seen them in the compost pile once or twice, and in the pond heaps!

[HHLL38]

Just decided to use ground cinnamon to deter/murder all of the pests.

Just to clarify, although I already doused the plant and the water it's standing in with cinnamon, this isn't at all dangerous to the plant, correct?

[kiwiorchids]

And no harm to the plants really, they tend to prey on other aquatic life, if not on each other!

[kiwiorchids]

Just decided to use ground cinnamon to deter/murder all of the pests.

Just to clarify, although I already doused the plant and the water it's standing in with cinnamon, this isn't at all dangerous to the plant, correct?

Yes, it can be damaging to the roots-cinnamon will dry the roots out if there is even a small amount of it, but i can never figure out why (unless you put heaps on....but it still dries them with a tiny bit...). My disas suffered when i tried to control some fungus in the sphagnum they were in.

[kiwiorchids]

The first could have been a Damsel or Dragonfly larvae, or some other aquatic fly larvae. We find them clinging to submerged stems in our pond in summer, and they are so cool!

[Daethen]

I think you now need to repot, like it or not. Cinnamon on a wound on a leaf or pbulb is one thing, but to dowse the water is not a good thing.