Mites
Grain Mites
​What to look for
These are tiny light brown specks, think dust motes that move.
Why and how they turn up
Generally only found if there is a grain product that is allowed to sit for a long period with some humidity, can also infest dried fruit. Note some premade isopod and invertebrate foods may have grain products in them. Sometimes the infestation will start there and then migrate to your enclosures.
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Danger level
Annoying and harmless to your isopods. Large enough infestations will leave the enclosure and spread over nearby surfaces.
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Prevention
Ensure any stored dry food is in tightly sealed containers. Remove uneaten food after no more than a week.
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How to treat them
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Remove infested foods (or anything suspected of being infested). Clean all areas outside of your enclosures with hot soapy water, you can use a wet cloth or kitchen towel to wipe away any found on the walls or lid of your enclosures.
You can also vacuum them up to reduce population numbers.
Expect a long and annoying battle, if they get going before you realise they're there they can migrate across whole rooms.
Some people find placing a slice of cucumber in the enclosure and removing it when it's covered in mites to be effective.
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A vigorous population of springtails often helps to outcompete the mites.
Soil Mites
​What to look for
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Small brown shiny spheres, colour varies from light tan to dark brown. Usually about 1mm diameter. They may show up on vegetables or fruit in the enclosure.
Why and how they turn up
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They will come in with your substrate, leaves, bark and wood. Also amongst the roots of any plants you put in your enclosure.
Even freezing or baking can leave a few individuals or eggs present.
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Danger level
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Annoying and harmless to your isopods. They are detritovores so the worst they can do is steal the tiniest of your isopods' food.
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Prevention
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Freezing wood, leaves, and substrate can minimise them however the only way to 100% prevent them is to never use anything natural in your enclosure which isn't a viable option.
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How to treat them
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​Some people find minimising protein based foods can help, others use a cucumber bait trap. If the infestation gets serious many have luck with sprinkling finely ground dried peas on the surface of the substrate. The springtails and isopods are fine with it but it seems to either kill or seriously inhibit the mites.
Predatory mites
​What to look for
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There are various species that can turn up. They are around 0.5mm in size and typically have long legs. The colour can vary but many are red, orange, or brown.
Those long legs and their speed, sometimes appearing to spin and whirl around, are what distinguish them from other mites commonly found in isopod enclosures.
We are focusing here on more general predatory mites, there are many species that specialise in eating specific species. Should any of those turn up in your enclosures they will pose zero risk to your isopods or springtails and not last long.
Why and how they turn up
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These will come in with leaves, bark and wood. Depending on how you've made your substrate they can come in with that too.
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Danger level
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They are generally too small to harm isopods, even mancae, although a massive population can start to damage marsupiums and the developing mancae in them. Generally they are more of a nuisance and threat to springtail populations so aren't something you want to ignore.
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Prevention
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Freezing wood, leaves, and substrate can minimise them however the only way to 100% prevent them is to never use anything natural in your enclosure which isn't a viable option.​
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How to treat them
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In our experience they prefer dryer conditions, and temporarily ensuring all the leaf litter and the upper level of substrate is moist reduces their ability to find prey. They will also usually die off once there are no springtails to find. Despite having several infestations they've not managed to last long and cause any serious harm in our enclosures.
If you are checking your enclosures regularly you can generally nip any populations in the bud before they become a serious problem. If you suddenly find an explosion in numbers it may be best to remove as many isopods as possible to another enclosure while you treat the main one, just to be safe.