Insects that damage the African violet: Podura (Poduridae)

Species from the Poduridae family are relatively few. In the soil in the pot, these insects are usually not found. The tenants on our windowsills are relatives of theirs,representatives of other families. Scientists gave them a general name, namely Collembola. In the pot with African violets, we usually meet representatives of the family Hypogastruridae and Entomobryidae.
Collembola are the most primitive wingless insects. Their length varies between 0.2mm and 10 mm. Collemboles prefer a more isolated way of life, in places with a fairly high humidity level. Usually, we meet them in the soil, under the bark of dry trees, in foliage, in the cracks of the rocks.
They feed on mushroom micelles, bacterial plaques, Algae, Muscles, Lichens. Few are the species that feed on plants. Unfortunately, with these species have to do most often amateurs of plants.
Defining these species is quite difficult. In the specialized literature they are found under different synonymous names.
The tiny size and isolated way of life complicate the more detailed knowledge of these insects.

Collembola differs from other insects due to a special organ located at the end of the abdomen with the help of which it jumps. This organ has the shape of a fork with two teeth, which is attached to the body of the Collembole by a 'flexible hook'. In case of necessity the 'fork' is released and hit the ground, propels the insect forward and up. Some of these species have an elongated shape, fusiform of the body and meet under the name of podure, others have a round belly and a spherical body and are called sminturi, a totally wrong name.
The larvae of the Collembole have the shape of the body similar to that of the adutlts, differing from adults only by size and maturity.
Their coloring is quite varied. Most species have whitish body color, grey, yellowish or brownish sometimes with a metallic sheen. Representatives of several species have imprinted on the body an imitation of marble, rarely have on the body one or more transverse stripes.
In the soil of indoor plants we meet most often with white pods, grey, vierzui or with metallic luster.

The species that are of interest to those who grow African violets are those that have their habitat in the soil and foliage, in the wet places in our home.
A good part of these species end up in the pot where violet is planted together with the soil, others feeling the dampness, find the pot with the plant and change their place of living, from the wet places of the dwelling in the flower pot.
Food sources are varied. It feeds primarily with the mycelium of the fungus in the soil, with unicellular algae, bacterial plaques. Of course, as these food sources are abundantly found in the soil, podures are starting to multiply alarmingly, some species affecting and houseplants.
The rapid multiplication of the pods is a good indicator of an improper agricultural practice.
The alarming number of them gives us to understand that we should not poison the soil and the plant, but to change the techniques and methods of plant growth.

Real and consistent damages can be caused by podure on the sainpaulia puetilor. The puetii in the opening stage of the cotyledons are eaten entirely by the collemboles.
When the number of podures is quite large, and the room temperature is low they can seriously affect the mature plant. Plants are weakened due to unfavorable conditions, their growth and development is stopped and they cannot regenerate normally. The multiple lesions caused by the podure in these conditions become an open gate for a lot of bacterial infections, who can not only weaken the plant but also destroy it.

In purple pots podurele are always present. The main method of combating and keeping under control their number consists in the exact observance of the conditions and techniques of growing violets.
The soil in which we plant african violets should not contain components in an active state of decomposition (Rotten leaves, fine sawdust, scraps of tea bags). Pots and soil must have a good drainage that prevents stagnation of water in the soil.
The plant will get moderately wet, as the soil dries. The volume of the pot must correspond to the size of the root system. The soil in which the roots of the plant have not reached, in no time it will be invaded by mushrooms, bacteria, Algae. The latter make the soil acidic creating an environment conducive to the development of the podures.
The higher their number, the more they will attract into the soil and a number of predatory mites, fearsome enemies of plants.
If the number of bridges has exploded, will change the soil. If history repeats itself, the soil component and the watering regime of the plant will be reviewed.
In cases when urgent measures must be taken to combat the number of podures, systemic insecticides can be used – Mospilan, Actara etc..
The number of podures can move or maintain constant if in the water with which the plant is wet is added Citramon or Ascofen (half a pill per 2-3 l of water).

When to plant seeds of African violets, the soil must be thermally processed. The vessel in which the seeds will be planted must be hermetically sealed and not allow the penetration into the soil of the insects in question. We have to comply with these requirements especially when seed germination takes place and we are dealing with hybrids whose seeds sprout in a very small number.