Pest experts, got the best picture can try to get better

[Bigcbud]

So I have only noticed these bugs gathered around the cotyledon that is dying. I tried so damn hard to get a picture of these little black bugs but they jump exactly like springtails when air hits them. They are not fungus gnats, spider mites or any type of aphid. I’ve left out a yellow sticky note with honey on it to attract whatever it is but they just default back to the cotyledon.

I can shoo them away and they will go back almost instantly. Black bugs that closely remind me of springtails. I’m not sure if they’re causing harm to the plant because it looks healthy but I’m not sure why they would be on my plant if they weren’t bad.

Again pictures are impossible due to their tiny size and jumping anytime they’re startled. Could they possibly just be eating decay from the cotyledon?

I’ve been googling for three days so this was my last hope and I know without a picture is hard but I hope the description helps. Black, long, tiny like a spec of dirt, jump like springtails when startled.

Plant seems okay

Best picture I could get of one

[Bigcbud]

[Bigcbud]

They come back almost instantly

[Scratchy]

Possibly fungus gnats… mosquito bits works well to control them . I have gotten to the point I pretreat my soil with it

[Bigcbud]

Any brand in particular? Doing living soil and uncertain if would be harmful to the biology in soil

[Bigcbud]

It’s thrips, bought the soap and put down diatomaceous earth.

[plumbdand]

Mosquito bits will not harm living soil. Its not a pesticide its a bacterium that affects the fungus gnat larvaes digestive system and they starve. Its harmless to plants and animals.

[Bigcbud]

Oh ok thank you, I just saw it said keep out of reach of children so figured was a chemical.

[plumbdand]

The bits are made from ground up corn cobs soaked in Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) its whats used in ponds and standing water to kill mosquito larvae. It also kills other types of larvae in soil.