General information

When flower growers talk about poduras, they usually mean not poduras in the narrow sense, but all springtails in general.
There are relatively few species of the family Poduridae (Podurids). In the ground flower pots they usually don't occur at all. A number of their relatives from other families become the inhabitants of our window sills. They are united by scientists under the common name Collembola. In pots of Saintpaulias, first of all, we will find species from the families Hypogastruridae And Entomobryidae.

Collembola or springtails are among the most primitive primary wingless insects.

The size of springtails ranges from 0.2 mm to 10 mm (very few species). Springtails prefer a secretive lifestyle in places with high humidity. They live in the soil, under the bark of dead trees, in leaf litter, and in the cracks of stones. Springtails feed on fungal mycelium, bacterial plaque, algae, mosses, and lichens. Only a few species can feed on higher plants. Unfortunately, this is exactly what flower growers face.

Identifying these representatives of the animal world is quite difficult. There are many views on the taxonomy of springtails, as a result of which many synonymous names are mentioned in the literature.

The small size and secretive lifestyle of springtails make it difficult to study them. The lack of accessible and complete identification literature on these groups of insects makes it almost impossible for non-professionals to identify springtails. Fortunately, the biology of soil springtails is similar enough that precise identification is not required. It is enough to know that these are springtails and not to confuse them with other insects (thrips, rootworms) and mites. To develop adequate control measures, if necessary.

Photo 1. Various types podur, which are usually found in the soil of flower pots.

Morphology

Springtails got their name due to a special jumping organ (jumping fork) located on the underside of the abdomen. The fork is held in a “cocked” state by a special hook. If necessary, the fork is released and, hitting the ground, throws the collembola forward and upward. Some springtail species have an elongated fusiform body shape. They are traditionally called fools. The other part is distinguished by a rounded abdomen and a spherical body; they are usually called sminturs. In a strict sense, this is not entirely correct. Sminturs are only part of the springtails that have this spherical body shape.

Springtail larvae completely repeat the body shape of adult individuals, differing from them only in size and maturity.

The color of springtails (podur and smintur) is very diverse. Most species have a whitish, gray, yellowish, or brownish color, sometimes with a metallic sheen. Representatives of some genera may have a marbled pattern, or less often one or more transverse stripes. Some mints may have a clear dot pattern.

When growing indoor plants, most often found are white, grayish in color, sometimes with a greenish or silver-metallic sheen.

Photo 2. Jumping fork.

Biology

The species that interest us live in soil and leaf litter, as well as in damp places of human habitation. Some of them end up in pots with plants along with the soil. Some springtails, sensing moisture, find the plant pot, moving from damp places in your home.

They feed primarily on the mycelium of soil fungi, deposits from unicellular algae on the soil, bacterial plaque. Accordingly, as soon as there is too much of this in the soil, poduras begin to multiply in large quantities and some species can begin to harm indoor plants. A noticeable increase in the number of podurs is a good indicator of improper agricultural practices.

An excessive number of them does not mean that you need to start poisoning the soil and plants, but that you need to change the approach to agricultural technology for growing plants.

Photo 3. Another type of dura from a flower pot.

Damage caused

Single damage caused by a few podurs cannot cause much harm to the plant. Large poduras (1-1.5 mm) can only cause real and significant damage to Saintpaulia seedlings. The seedlings at the stage of opening the cotyledon leaves are completely eaten by springtails.

The harm from poduras is also significant in cases where there are too many of them and the room temperature is low. Plants weakened by unfavorable conditions slow down their growth and development and cannot regenerate normally. Multiple injuries caused by podurs in such conditions become open gates for a wide variety of fungal and bacterial infections that can not only weaken, but also destroy part of the plants in your collection.

Photo 4. Saintpaulia seedling eaten by podura.

Control measures

Podura are almost always present in volumes with mature plants, and it is not necessary to conduct a directed fight against them with normal agricultural technology. The main measure to combat outbreaks in the number of podurs can only be compliance with the conditions proper agricultural technology growing plants. The substrate should not contain a large number of actively decomposing components (unrotted leaves, tea leaves, decorative sawdust). The volumes must have good drainage to prevent stagnation of moisture in the soil. Watering is moderate, as the soil dries. The volume of the pot should correspond to the size of the root system. The place not occupied in the near future by plant roots will be occupied by fungi, bacteria, algae, the earth will turn sour, and fools will breed.

The number of duras remarkably restrains a number of predatory mites, which are also almost always present in the soil.

If there are too many muds, change the soil to a new one. If history repeats itself, then reconsider the soil composition and watering regime.

In cases where you need to take urgent measures to reduce the number of poduras, you can use systemic insecticides (Mospilan, Aktara, etc.). You can restrain and somewhat limit the number of poduras by also adding citramon or askofen to the water for irrigation (half a tablet per 2-3 liters of water).

When sowing Saintpaulia and Streptocarpus seeds, the soil must be thoroughly steamed. The container in which the seeds are sown must be sealed and have no drainage holes accessible to the pest. It is especially important to comply with these requirements when there are few seeds or the germination rate of the seeds of a given hybrid is very low.

Podurs living in pots are close relatives of the inhabitants of reservoirs. They also prefer high humidity. What do idiots look like? The body shape is elongated, segmented, reminiscent of caterpillars. The color is transparent white, sometimes gray. Body length is 2-3 mm. Whiskers are noticeable on the head.

Their distinctive feature- a growth in the back of the body called the jumping fork. This process allows springtails to push off from the surface and make a jump. Feature behavior helps novice gardeners distinguish the podura from another pest - the mealybug. Outwardly, these small whitish pests are very similar, but springtails do not suck plant juice like scale insects. At rest, the fork tucks under the abdomen.

Information. Not all springtail species have a jumping fork; some only crawl using their pectoral legs.

Springtails reproduce by laying eggs. The female buries the clutch into the soil to a depth of 3 cm. The emerging larvae are a miniature copy of the parents.

Adults are quite active; they can be seen on the surface of the ground, on the windowsill near the flowers, or near the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot. In small quantities they are harmless. With uncontrolled reproduction, arthropods eat all the organic matter in the soil and attack the roots and shoots of the plant. More often than other flowers, violets and orchids suffer from the invasion of jumping pests.

Attention. The appearance of dura is a kind of indicator of systematic excess of watering norms.

Podura in a pot of orchids

The most common option is the appearance of nimble pests on orchids growing in moss. If springtails are noticed on the substrate, this is a signal that the conditions of the plant have been violated. Poduras appear on an orchid in several cases:

• The soil is waterlogged, which leads to rotting of roots, stems and pseudobulbs, and infectious diseases may subsequently arise.
• The flower does not receive enough sunlight, therefore it does not have time to use up moisture during the period between waterings.

The desire to quickly destroy pests arises not only because of their potential threat to plants, but also because of their unsightly appearance. How to get rid of dura in orchids? To do this, it is recommended to replant the plant. Before the procedure you need to wash root system warm water. This will wash away eggs and larvae, invisible due to their small size. During transplantation, you can clearly see the roots. Rotten and dried parts are removed, the fabrics are cleaned to a healthy green color. Treated areas must be disinfected. The most commonly used powder activated carbon(to prepare it you need to crush several tablets purchased at the pharmacy).

Interesting fact. Springtails can be beneficial; they are placed in soil contaminated with heavy metals for gradual cleansing.

The orchid should not be returned to its original place; it is better to move it to a more illuminated area. If it is not possible to improve natural lighting, phytolamps are installed. This is especially true in autumn and winter during the short photoperiod.

Pest on violets

Springtails are present in almost every indoor plant soil. Several miniature individuals are difficult to notice; they leave no signs of their existence. As humidity levels rise, adults begin to reproduce intensively. In damp soil, the roots rot, and rotten organic matter is the main source of food for fools. The number of springtails increases, they begin to jump, appear floating in trays of water. The damage from springtails increases at low room temperatures. Unfavorable conditions slow down the growth and regeneration of indoor plants. Even minor damage turns into serious problems.

Heavy acidifying soil in pots with violets is a violation of agrotechnical growing conditions. Some species of fools cause damage to young violet seedlings. Damaged plants become vulnerable to diseases and other pests. Springtails are also carriers of fungal spores that cause disease.

Methods of pest control

Most springtails, and there are about 8 thousand species of them, lead a secretive lifestyle. Their diet includes fungal mycelium, algae, and lichen. A limited number of springtails feed on plants, but this is what gardeners have to deal with.

Methods for getting rid of dura on indoor flowers can be divided into several groups: mechanical, agrotechnical, folk and chemical.

For those who are confident in the health of the plant's roots, a simple but effective method. The pot is completely immersed in a basin of water. The springtails float to the surface. All that remains is to collect them. The method has several disadvantages:

• it is effective for small infestations;
• light particles of the substrate float up - expanded clay, peat.

TO mechanical methods The fight includes cleaning trays, pots, shelves or window sills where flowers stand with a soapy solution.

Advice. Do not leave water in the pan; pour it out half an hour after watering.

Most in an effective way The fight against durs is to reduce watering and dry the soil. Loss of moisture is detrimental to them. The lump of earth is dried in the air in the shade or blotted with napkins. Not every plant can withstand prolonged drought, so you will have to act based on each type indoor flower. It is worth reviewing the composition of the soil; organic residues are excluded from it - tea leaves, dry leaves. These components promote the growth of fungi, a breeding ground for springtails. Proper drainage is necessary so that moisture does not stagnate in the soil.

Advice. The pot should be selected according to the size of the root system. With a large volume, simple fungi and bacteria fill the free space. A favorable environment is created for the development of springtails.

If there is a large accumulation of pests on the surface, the top layer of soil is replaced. 3-4 cm of soil are removed and clean sand is poured in their place. After 4-5 months, the sand can be replaced with soil. Sprinkling the soil with ash is also effective; this worsens the living conditions of pests.

Folk recipes

Simple and safe way– lure pests from the pot into the potatoes. For this purpose it is taken raw vegetable, cut in half. Half a potato is placed cut side down in the ground. Springtails will gather around him. Remove the pests with a spatula, along with the soil. You need to act quickly, but carefully. The collected poduras are placed in a container with a lid (don’t forget about their jumping ability) and then destroyed. This method will not get rid of all pests, but it will significantly reduce their population.

To repel pests, it is recommended to place dry peels of citrus fruits - oranges or lemons - in pots. Sprinkling a thin layer of tobacco dust will help. Watering with the addition of a citramone tablet per 2 liters of water helps control the number of springtails. If the above methods are ineffective, you will have to replace the soil.

Treatment with chemicals

If the soil podra has multiplied in large numbers and eats young shoots, then it is necessary to resort to the use of insecticides. These drugs are in short term destroy any plant pests. Among the proven products: Fitoverm, Aktara, Mospilan. The preparations are diluted in water according to the instructions, then poured into the soil. In this case, the treatment is not carried out by spraying, as with other types of pests, the soil must be wetted to a depth of 3-4 cm. This will destroy the eggs and larvae.

Attention. Before using Bazudin, consider what it releases bad smell. It intensifies when watered. The action of Bazudin has a negative impact on well-being; it is not recommended to use it if there are children in the house.

Another soil insecticide, Pochin, effectively destroys springtails when applied to the soil of a pot. Small granules act on the pest upon contact. It is enough to mix them with soil and the fools will die within a few hours.

Preventive measures:

1. It is better to buy indoor flowers in specialized stores. Before purchasing, it is good to inspect the specimen; if there are any doubts about its health, take another plant.
2. Provide good drainage to prevent moisture from accumulating at the bottom of the pot.
3. Observe the agrotechnical conditions recommended for plants (temperature, humidity, lighting).

Before starting the fight against fools on indoor plants the extent of the threat should be assessed. They are part of the processes of humus formation. Chemicals that harm indoor plants will not be needed if flower care is properly organized.

When a florist first notices flower pot stupid - he literally turns cold with horror. Of course, in the bowl with the flower there are countless small white insects with antennae crawling around. Insects not only crawl, but also jump - there is something to be afraid of. In fact idiots(and that’s exactly what they are) are not pests and in most cases are safe for the plant. But you should not ignore insects and leave them to live and enjoy the plant - by reproducing in large quantities, fools can cause significant harm. Homemade violets (Saintpaulias) especially suffer from them. So, let's talk about fools in more detail...

Entomological classification

As is often the case, when talking about fools, flower growers do not mean real fools, insects of the family Poduridae (Podurids), but their closest relatives - springtails from the families Hypogastruridae and Entomobryidae, subclass Collembola (Collembolas). Collembolas are a order of cryptomaxillary, which includes about 8 thousand species.

Real fools do not live in the soil of indoor plants at all; their habitat is ponds, puddles, and swamps. Their diet consists of simple fungi, mosses, lichens and algae. But the springtails Hypogastruridae and Entomobryidae are our home flower lovers. But, since this is how it is, we will continue to call springtails fools.

Fools - appearance

How can you tell if your flower is full of fools?

Poduras look like small white or cream-colored caterpillars with short antennae. There are specimens painted in a greenish or silvery tint. The size of the insects is approximately 2 mm, in some cases it can reach 1 cm. A special fork is attached to the underside of the abdomen, thanks to which the podras can not only crawl on the soil, but also jump, pushing off the surface with the fork. It is by this feature that an inexperienced gardener can distinguish dur from other pests, such as mealybugs.

Beginning gardeners confuse podur not only with mealybugs, but also with insects such as fungus gnat larvae or thrips. But although all these insects are white or cream-colored, it is very easy to distinguish springtails by their ability to jump on the surface of the soil.

Podura larvae look approximately the same and differ from adults only in size.

When do fools appear?

Not large number springtails are almost always present in the soil of domestic plants. When their population is small, podurs are not noticeable and do not interfere with the plant in any way. But as soon as the gardener begins to over-water the flower, thus provoking the creation of a nutrient-rich environment for springtails, the springtails enter the stage of active reproduction, their numbers are actively growing, and now insects become a problem for the plant and the gardener.

[!] Podura for the gardener is always a signal that watering should be reduced!

If you overwater a plant and the water stagnates on the surface of the soil, forming silt, expect uninvited guests.

The optimal habitat for springtails is wet soil and parts of the plant that begin to rot from waterlogging. The products of rotting are the best food for fools.

Very often, podurs appear on plants that constantly need a moist environment (pallets with water, moistened soil), for example, on cyperus. In such cases, you should not reduce watering and deprive the plants familiar conditions habitat, and you need to fight fools with the help of insecticides or folk remedies.

Damage from fools

Poduras, especially small specimens, cause virtually no damage to the plant. The only exception is young seedlings of Uzambara violet (Saintpaulia). Moreover, only the largest individuals can cause damage to the violet.

Another possible harm from these insects - in case of a large population and low room temperature. Under such conditions, plants slightly damaged by durs become very vulnerable to various infections and rots.

That, perhaps, is all the trouble that springtails can cause.

How to get rid of idiots

Ecologically safe and folk remedies for the fight against fools

Before using chemicals that can cause irreparable harm to the plant itself, try simpler control measures.

The most effective and simplest way is to reduce or completely stop watering the plant for a while. Having been deprived of their usual and comfortable habitat, the fools themselves will disappear and will no longer disturb the plant.

Pay the most close attention on the composition of the soil: it is important to exclude from the soil mixture components that cause the development of mold and mildew. Such elements can be sawdust, tea leaves, dry leaves. Equally important is proper drainage in the container with the plant. All factors that in one way or another cause rotting, mold and acidification of the soil must be completely eliminated. You can dilute the substrate with dry sifted sand. In clean soil, without food, springtails cannot live.

Another original recipe getting rid of springtails is as follows: the pot with the plant must be placed in a basin or bucket so that the walls of this container are higher than the container with the plant. After this, water is poured into the basin so that it completely covers the bowl. As a result of these manipulations, the fish will float to the surface of the water, after which they can be caught.

A folk method that is completely safe for both the plant and humans: take a potato tuber and cut it in half. Place the potato halves in the bowl with the plant, cut side down. After a few hours, the springtails will gather on the potato sections. After this, you can carefully remove the potato from the ground, holding it with a spatula from below, and shake off and destroy the collected potatoes. The procedure will need to be repeated several times, since it will not be possible to collect all the insects the first time.

As a preventive measure Always disinfect the soil before planting a young plant or seeds: keep the soil in the oven at a temperature of about 220 ° C for 20-30 minutes. This simple method will allow you to get rid of not only podura larvae, but also other insects.

Insecticides in the fight against podura

Insecticidal preparations should be used only when the springtail colony has become very numerous. At the same time, it is very important to follow all safety measures and limit children and pets’ access to the processed plant.

The drug Bazudin is suitable for the destruction of duras. The drug is scattered on the soil surface thin layer, in a few hours all the fools will die.

Pochin is another drug effective in the fight against springtails. The method of application is the same as for Bazudin - scatter the granules over the surface and mix a little with the ground. The drug begins to act immediately, within a few hours all insects will be destroyed.

The drugs Mospilan, Aktara and other drugs that are effective against most pests can also be used to control springtails. When preparing the solution, strictly follow the instructions on the package.

Briefly about the most important...

If you find that there are poduras in the bowl with the plant, don’t worry. These insects are practically harmless and are part of the natural soil fauna. Just reduce watering and insects will no longer bother your flower.

Sometimes in a pot with an orchid appear numerous small insects , clearly visible to the naked eye, are poduras, or springtails, also often called springtails.

To effectively combat these pests, you need to know what they are and what measures need to be taken when they appear.

Poduras are primitive, primary wingless insects family Collembola. Their size varies from 0.2 mm, some types can reach 10 mm.

Poduras are very small insects.

A characteristic feature of springtails is presence of a jumping fork, which is a growth in the back of the body, it allows some species to jump up to 3 cm in height. This feature allows you to distinguish podura from another orchid pest - the mealybug.

In the substrate of indoor plants usually you can meet idiots white or grayish in color, sometimes with a greenish tint.

What is the danger?

These insects do not pose any danger to orchids, as well as other plants; they like to hide in places with high humidity. In the diet of springtails included:

• Bacterial plaque;
• Mushroom mycelium;
• Seaweed;

If the number of insects is too large, it indicates poor living conditions orchids related to:

• Low ;
• Bad, etc.

This leads to:

• Slower orchid growth;
• Decreased immunity;
• The emergence of diseases.

Reasons for the appearance of dura in the substrate

In a pot with a springtail flower, as a rule, brought in with the soil. Some insects, sensing moisture, can spread out and invade neighboring plants.

Podurs are introduced along with poor-quality soil.

Attention! Large colonies of springtail orchids jumping in the substrate are an indicator of constant waterlogging of the soil and an indicator of improper agricultural practices.

Their appearance indicates about the need for changing the conditions of keeping and watering the plant.

Methods struggle

Folk remedies

How to get rid of fools at home? If a small amount of polyurethane appears in the substrate, do not rush to apply chemicals plant protection, they can cause more harm to the orchid than several insects.

When pests appear, the orchid first of all:

• Isolate to prevent the spread of dura to other plants;
• Mechanical soil cleaning is carried out.

Good results can be achieved:

• Laying out bait in the form of raw potatoes cut into pieces on the substrate around the plant. In a few days, a large number of springtails will accumulate on it, which are easy to collect and eliminate;
• When immersing a flower with a pot in water for 20 minutes. All adult individuals will float to the surface in the water, after which they are collected and destroyed.

In addition, there are a number of other home methods to combat these insects.

Herbal decoctions medicinal herbs. These decoctions have long been prepared to combat various harmful insects:

• Flowers of chamomile, calendula, dandelion, yarrow. To prepare a decoction, add 0.5 liters of water to 20 g of dry plants, bring everything to a boil and remove after ten minutes. Cool at room temperature, filter and treat the affected plants;
• Infusion of marigolds. Faded marigolds along with leaves are poured hot water in a 1:1 ratio and leave for two days.

After treating the orchid with herbal decoctions the date of spraying should be recorded to repeat the procedure after 7-10 days.

Herbal infusions are made against fools.

You can also use other solutions:

• Mustard solution. To prepare the solution, mustard powder (15 g) is poured into 1 liter hot water, insist for 2 days. The resulting preparation is sprayed onto the plant, and dry mustard is sprinkled onto the soil;
• Mulching birch soil wood ash . Good result in the fight against springtails, it is obtained after sprinkling the soil with wood ash (birch ash is best) in a layer of one or two centimeters;
• Anti-flea shampoo for animals. A solution with the addition of flea shampoo showed unexpected effectiveness. To prepare 1 tbsp. l. shampoo is dissolved in a bucket of water, the plant and substrate are sprayed. After a short time after treatment, the orchids disappear.

Important! An effective method for eliminating springtails is to replace the substrate. The orchid is replanted after thoroughly washing the roots in running warm water.

The listed measures, which are used individually or in combination, are sufficient to protect indoor plants from any number of springtails.

Fitoverm

Represents natural pesticide, which is obtained during microbiological cultivation of the producing fungus. The drug is environmentally friendly, as a result of which its effect on the orchid will be minimal:

• The insect absorbs the drug along with food, as a result of which the poison affects only mature individuals and larvae. Podura eggs remain viable after treatment with phytoverm, so after 6-7 days it is necessary to repeat;
• Fitoverm do not mix with others insecticides or .

To spray an orchid, 2 ml of the drug is dissolved in 50 ml of water, 0.1 liter of solution is consumed per plant.

Chemicals

If it was not possible to get rid of the larvae and adults using the methods described above, then you should use chemicals. Currently, there are a number of agents that have demonstrated effectiveness against springtails:

These drugs will help control pests within a short time.

Precautions

When working with insecticides, it is necessary to compliance with safety rules:

• Children and pets are not allowed near the sprayed orchid;
• Work with insecticides is carried out with gloves and a respirator;
• After finishing work, the tools are thoroughly washed and stored in a separate place;
• In case of contact with skin, the insecticide is washed off with water. detergents. If the product gets into the eyes, rinse with running water;
• It is prohibited to eat or drink while carrying out work.

Used ampoules or packaging wrapped in polyethylene and throw away, the remaining solution is poured down the drain.

Gardeners are no strangers to coping with difficulties. When growing seedlings in peas, you can find podura. How does the pest appear, how to fight it?

I found insects in a pot with a young pepper plant. They white, elongated, very mobile, capable of jumping. How can I protect vegetable seedlings from this pest? Tatyana Loginova, Mytishchi, Moscow region.

With a high degree of probability, we are talking about an insect such as springtail or springtail. Another name for the pest is dura. This insect, measuring from 2 to 10 mm, resembling a tiny caterpillar, “can jump.” This ability is provided to him by a fork-shaped process located on the underside of the body: in a calm state, this organ is tucked under the abdomen, and at the moment of a jump it straightens.

Usually the insect inhabits top layer soil if it is too wet. Increased moisture content in the soil is the main reason for the appearance of podura, and the higher the soil moisture, the more actively it reproduces. The harmfulness of an insect depends on its numbers. A small amount will not cause much damage, but with a significant increase in the population, the damage may be irreparable: damage to the roots leads to deterioration in growth, and sometimes to the death of the plant.

The appearance of podura in a pot signals that it is urgent to reduce watering.

Many summer residents, having discovered jumping fools in containers with seedlings, do not understand how they got there. The pest could have climbed through the ventilation holes from another apartment where the fools had already settled. Another way is that a new plant is brought into the house, the soil of which is infested with insects. The cause of the appearance of podura is often a poor-quality substrate populated with podura, which is used for growing seedlings.

Favorable conditions for the life of Podura are excessive watering and poor drainage in seedling containers, damp air and low temperature in the area where seedlings are grown, excess organic fertilizers and the presence of plant residues in the soil, for example tea leaves. If all this is excluded, then the fools deprived of “comfortable” living conditions will disappear.

Firstly, reduce watering of seedlings, secondly, ventilate the room more often, thirdly, provide access sun rays to plants. A good effect is achieved by using ash or sand, which is poured in a small layer around the plants.

There are also mechanical methods to get rid of the pest. Place the pot with the plant in a large, wide container, the sides of which should be higher than the container with the plant, and pour water so that it covers the soil in the pot. Carefully collect floating insects.

Another option is to cut the potato tuber into large slices and place them in the pot with the plant. After a few hours, when the pests have gathered on the bait, carefully remove the pieces of potato, and with them the insects. If the podura population is high, several such procedures will be needed.

If the described methods do not help, use fast-acting “chemistry”. A universal means of combating foolishness is the drug "Aktara". Strictly follow the instructions and observe personal safety measures, and also prevent small children and pets from accessing treated plants.