My war with mites

[Nonnack]

I think I won
It was worst experience in this hobby i had so far. The infestation started in mealworm colony, I guess humidity was to high. But I kept colony in same way for many months, cleaning every few weeks, fresh vegetables every week, seems like I messed up one time, but when I noticed it, it was already too late.... Mites where everywhere. In closet where I keep feeders, above it, where I keep slings and juvis, next to it, where I keep glass terrariums. They even start spreading in my room to palm tree and ficus tree.

Ofc I freaked out. Separate all enclosures,get rid of feeders, clean closet, floor, everything, mites keep showing up. After some research, it looks like I have some kind of grain mites, at least not deadly to Ts, what calmed me down

I cleaned closet few times, until I don't see mites anymore, vinegar seems to deadly to them All stuff from closed I put on radiator, high temperature and low humidity also kills them. Moved plants outside, low temperature also works.
I had to rehouse all my slings and juvis, at least the ones that need high humidity. Desert ones I kept separated and bone dry, after one and half week mites seems to disappear.

Big terrariums aren't infected that badly, I keep it separated and remove mites manual. I know I can remove T and freeze container but Ts are in pre moult, don't want to stress them out.

To sum up. Keep an eye on your feeders. Check everything carefully with flashlight once in a while. Keep feeders away from Ts. At least thats what I will do, don't want to see those little white bastards anymore

 

[viper69]

I don't have scientific data, but the mites I've battled seem to be attracted to T poop based on some observations.

 

[korg]

Those do indeed look like grain mites... more annoying than threatening to the tarantulas, but looks like you dealt with them very effectively.

 

[Paul1126]

Keep feeders away from Ts

Oh gee, I left some meal worms next to my Ts enclosures, now this will be on my mind all day.
Thanks op.

 

[Nonnack]

One day isn't problem, I keep it like this for one year. It was all good, until pandemic started;P

 

[The Snark]

Those do indeed look like grain mites... more annoying than threatening to the tarantulas, but looks like you dealt with them very effectively.

This. Just annoying, with the problem they invade just about any dry foods like cereals, grains, flour etc and their presence attracts predator monsters. I'm not sure what they are or if those monsters are found outside the tropics but one variety munches humans, like getting stabbed by a pin.
Around here it's always wall to wall grain mites. The rice harvesters blow them all over the landscape. The only way to cope is anything the mites might eat must be kept in the fridge or hermetically sealed jar.

I think the predator monsters are also mites. Dark red, about the size of the point of a needle, they annoy the heck out of small animals almost as bad as fleas. Drive our cats bananas. Those would be the little bastards to watch out for as I'm sure your critters would be on their menu. Watch out for imported grains that may harbor them along with the grain mites.
You can see the predators on your skin if you look very close. They run FAST, these tiny dots zooming around.

 

[JoshDM020]

This. Just annoying, with the problem they invade just about any dry foods like cereals, grains, flour etc and their presence attracts predator monsters. I'm not sure what they are or if those monsters are found outside the tropics but one variety munches humans, like getting stabbed by a pin.
Around here it's always wall to wall grain mites. The rice harvesters blow them all over the landscape. The only way to cope is anything the mites might eat must be kept in the fridge or hermetically sealed jar.

I think the predator monsters are also mites. Dark red, about the size of the point of a needle, they annoy the heck out of small animals almost as bad as fleas. Drive our cats bananas. Those would be the little bastards to watch out for as I'm sure your critters would be on their menu. Watch out for imported grains that may harbor them along with the grain mites.
You can see the predators on your skin if you look very close. They run FAST, these tiny dots zooming around.

I was under the impression there were different kinds of predator mites, as I've read reports of people having to buy them to get rid of bad mite infestations.