However, not all tiny white bugs are harmful.

Culprit #1: Root Mealybugs

What Do Mealybugs Look Like?

This jot down ofmealybuglives beneath the soil.

How to Eliminate Tiny White Bugs in Houseplant Soil

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They move very slowly.

If you remove the plant from its pot, you will notice that the roots are limp.

Culprit #2: Soil Mites

What Do Soil Mites Look Like?

Mealybug on orchid roots

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They break down and feed on organic matter in the soil and help with soil aeration.

Some soil mites are predators that control pests such asthrips.

Soil mites should be left alonethey are good bugs.

Root aphids

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Culprit #3: Root Aphids

What Do Aphids Look Like?

Root aphids, unlikeaphidsfeeding on leaves , live in the soil.

They are a common pest in greenhouses so they might have come with the potted plants.

Scale insects

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They are oval-shaped, woolly white in appearance and dont move around as swiftly as foliar aphids.

You need a hand lens to identify them.

Culprit #4: Scale

What Do Scale Insects Look Like?

Fungus gnat

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Culprit #5: Fungus Gnats

What Do Fungus Gnats Look Like?

These small legless flies have white bodies and black heads.

How to Transplant Your Plant

The ultimate step if all else fails is transplanting the plant.

Washing the soil from the roots

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Here’s how to do it:

Key Takeaways

No, soil mites are not harmful.

They help to aerate the soil.

If you think you have soil mites, it’s not a bad thing.

White springtails are harmless, only feeding on dead or decaying material.