creepy crawlies

Found something crawling around the soil in my new Sylvina Seedlings. They are about 2mm long but they can move. It was new soil for seeds I bought and the seeds were in a sealed packet and they have benn covered since sowing in the propogator. They look good strong plants too. Its disnae half put you off. Can I spray? Will they affect the plants?

 

What colour are these creepy-crawlies? I've sometimes had so-called "new compost" which has been infected with pale-coloured soil-lice (I don't know the correct name for them) which really hop around when exposed to the light.
If they are actually in the soil you might be better off getting some sort of preparation to add to it as a spray probably won't penetrate below the surface.

 

Thanks I will look into that. These are tiny wee white things that look more like a wee worm. But they have only appeared today. (Or should I say I have only noticed them today). And we have had more sun the last 2 days. I'll nip along to the garden centre tomorrow and get something.

 

They could be the larvae of fungus gnats.
They are common in peat compost thats a bit on the wet side, usually seen along with tiny black flies.

 

so if it is larvae will they damage the salvinas. they seem to be enjoying the conditions

 

They tend to live off the compost its self, and not the plants, but usually it means that the compost is too wet and the surface should be allowed to dry out between waterings.
However it could quite easily be something else without a definite ID of the pest.

Jackie are these seedlings salvia?

 

If it's the fungus gnat larva you're ok, if it's sciarid fly larva you're not, they eat roots and they are very difficult to tell apart, sciarid fly larva leave a shiny trail on the compost.

 

Thanks strongy.

 

saw my first GREEN FLY today

 

Your lucky,........ I see them every year. :D :D :D

 

yes pete, these are salvia. they look really healthy and are growing well. 4 leaves on most of them. That last statement might sound a bit iffy to some of you. I'm really new to gardening.