Unidentified creepy crawlies in my pots!

leeph

Hi all, first post on this here forum. Hello to everyone!

I joined because I need help (if possible!) identifying and dealing with some critters that appear to have infested my two african birds eye chillis that I'm growing indoors on the windowcill.

I thought at first they were fungus gnat larvae, but those are like small worms, no legs - whereas these are quite fast moving insect type critters I think WITH legs. They are clear/grey in colour. They can also JUMP... like fleas almost, but not very far, perhaps halfway across the pot. Anyway, any idea what these things are? It seems to be a recurring infestation and I suspect they are eating the roots of my chilli plants.

Please have a look at the video below and see if you know what these things are and how to get rid of them! Thanks very much!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59cOWNYI504

James / leeph

butterflybrain

Hello leeph

From your description I think they might be springtails.  Have found them in my garden, there seem to be more than usual this year.  They like damp places and feed on decaying matter and fungi so don't think they will harm plants.  I would'nt like them indoors though so maybe you should repot your plants.  Hope this helps!

Dovefromabove

Butterflybrain   I was trying to remember the name - some info here

 http://biology.st-andrews.ac.uk/gardenlife/springtails.html

leeph

Yup those look like the culprits! Good to know they aren't harming my chilli plants, but I just don't want to be sharing my house with them

Thanks for the responses!