small worms in soil\ pls help

[busta]

Hi Fellow bonsai enthusiasts.
I was wondering if someone could give me a hand identifying this worm( if you can see it). It is clear\white in colour and is about 5mm long. I noticed them at the top of the soil when i came back from holiday. I think that they have come to the top for air because the soil was so wet. I am hoping that they are just baby earth worms. ( fingers crossed). Nun of my other trees have them and the tree that has the worms is a corky bark elm.

Thanks in advance.

Matt

[Mitchell]

Looks like an immature earthworm to me.

[busta]

Sorry for the bad pic, hopefully this one is better.

Thanks again
Matt

[busta]

Thanks Mitch
I hope so as i am very keen on this tree.

Cya
Matt

[Mitchell]

Hmmm, I am less positive now. He is awfully clear. Could you take him out and lie him on something black? I would like to see, some not so clear segment to the body.
Sorry I know it's a pain, but the full length of the body would be helpful.

[busta]

Hi Mithchell

Will try get some better photos up tonight. Just tried to take a couple pics on a black background but the flash ruins the photo. They seem to be a half blk and half white\clear colour. Some of them are getting bigger(ie about 10mm long now).
Thanks again
Matt

[Amanda]

Do you have accompanying small black flies? Could it be fungus gnat larvae?

[busta]

Hi Anja

I didn’t have small blk flies on this tree but a while back i had heaps on the soil of my Chinese Elm. The Chinese Elm doesn’t have any of these worms.....yet.
Thanks

[Jester]

Hi Busta,this is most likely soil gnat larvae. The soil gnat adults are usually attracted to the soil due to excess moisture and fungi and hop about quickly on the surface. In small numbers they are relatively harmless but your best bet is to let the soil dry out. Repotting with less organic matter is also an option if you want to stop attracting the adults.

[Mitchell]

I second Jester, it's too clear to be an earthworm.

[busta]

Thanks Jester
Do you think i should repot early or just wait till the end of winter? The only concern i have about them being nats is that they are a slight different shape to the ones in your picture( thanks heaps for going to the effort to find a pic!). The ones in my pot are longer and thinner. They also do not have a black head but rather a black line( probably its intestine) running from top to bottom of the creature. If you have any other suggestions I’m keen to hear them.
Thanks again.

Matt

[Jester]

Hi Busta, personally, I think a repot is a bit extreme. If I were you I would let the soil dry out. Pick off any larvae you see and keep any organic matter on top of the soil to a minimum. A good rule of thumb I learnt is always try the easiest things first when addressing a problem. Soil gnats are not a serious problem compared to many other pests. Keep an eye out for the leaves to wee if there is any serious wilting.

Hope this helps

John

[busta]

Thanks for the advise Jester, much appreciated.
Cya
Matt

[blkrota]

Dam i have seen those flys around my plants back when it was sunny. Now i know.