Can roaches get mites.

[linda60]

I have noticed loads of minute white things in my roach colony,all over the lid and sides of the tub,has anyone seen these and what can I do about them,any help please.

[linda60]

Can no one help.

[Schip]

Some roaches do have a mite like bug on them which is normal as they are cleaners, just can't remember if it goes for all roaches.

If there seems to be a large amount then maybe cleaning everything out and starting in a new tub might be a help.

[yellrat]

my colony is the same have changed tubs cleaned them out so many times but the tiny pinhead sized white things always return have no idea how to get rid or if they will do damage to the colony

[cooljules]

my hissers had them, never a problem

[blatta]

It sounds as if youre experienceing a mite explosion.

The tiny white grain mites that live on food are not really a threat to the roaches, though they are really horrible and some people have allergies to them. It probably means that your roaches are too moist. If possible, you should clean them out, then either keep them properly dry (water only from fruit and veg, which should not be left in more more than say half a day), or dont feed them dry grain based foods (eg bran, weetabix). Ive seen mites in such huge numbers they were over a centimeter deep. Dont bnother trying to irradicate them completely. I find theyre everywhere, just keep the roaches in condiditons that do not favour mites.

There are other mites which are commensial to hissing roaches, these are apparently harmless. Im currently seeing if they will live on dubias.

Mites are amazingly diverse, some parasitic, many scavengers, some predatory and some commensal. I have seen some whch appear to attack roaches, but by far the most common are just the grain mites.