Tiny flying insects in my geniculata's enclosure

arthurliuyz

Arachnoknight
Joined
Dec 17, 2021
Messages
274
Today when I went to check my genic's enclosure, I found that there are a few teeny tiny flying insects (so tiny that on camera it just looks like tiny black blurry dots) in its enclosure tho it doesn't seem bothered by them. Are they harmful?

P.S. upon closer examination they seem to be phorid flies? (can't say for sure)
 

The Grym Reaper

Arachnoreaper
Joined
Jul 19, 2016
Messages
4,830
Thanks for the help. Are there any insects I should look out for? (I know ants and predatory mites are really dangerous for ts)
Unless you regularly purchase WC tarantulas then you're extremely unlikely to encounter any of the nasties that people in this hobby like to obsess over (parasitic mites/parasitic nematodes/etc.).

Predatory mites are a non-issue as they prey on other mite species and springtails, ants you want to keep away from your collection though.
 

arthurliuyz

Arachnoknight
Joined
Dec 17, 2021
Messages
274
Unless you regularly purchase WC tarantulas then you're extremely unlikely to encounter any of the nasties that people in this hobby like to obsess over (parasitic mites/parasitic nematodes/etc.).
Gotcha. Good thing I never buy WC ts.
 

jhjhj

Arachnopeon
Joined
Nov 17, 2021
Messages
39
For you? Fungus gnats are annoying, but won’t cause you any harm. For the T? Unless there are so many they start using it as a landing platform I don’t think they are likely to hurt them. Heck, given that the larvae will eat fungus and decomposing matter they could even be beneficial.
Correct me if I’m wrong about that though, not entirely sure.
 

spideyspinneret78

Arachnoprince
Active Member
Joined
Jul 19, 2019
Messages
1,398
They're stupid fungus gnats. Can definitely be annoying but not harmful. Kind of funny- but at most pet shops I've been to that have tarantulas in a cabinet/ behind glass doors, there's almost always a few cellar spiders that set up shop in there to freeload off of all the food....the fungus gnats! It must be an endless buffet for them.
 
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