tiny worm like pest in jiffy pellets ?

[teejay]

Hi All,
 
I've just remembered to ask a question about tiny worm like pests that are sometimes found in my jiffy pellets.
 
More often than not, I find them when I dig out seeds that haven't germinated in a few weeks, and it appears as though these nasties have been eating the innards of them.
 
They are tiny - truly, 2 to 3mm long at the very most, crawl in a caterpillar like motion, very very light white / almost transparent, with  fine black bands around them. Often, you need to blow on them a little to get them to move to see if your eyes are playing tricks on you or not.
 
I'm not sure if they are some sort of pest that gets into the peat somehow and survives through to packaging, only to emerge from an egg and grow when food (seed) and water is added.
 
I'd like to supply a photo, but I don't have a macro setup that could do the job.
 
Does any of this ring any bells to anyone ?
 
Regards,
 
Tim

 

[SanPatricio]

Fungus gnats - efficiently devour tomato and pepper seeds.  Have eliminated fungus gnats by changing watering to bottom absorption - (no standing water).
Also no longer use mixes containing peat moss. Best results have been with a mix of Perlite and hand screened commercial orchid soil. 
 
A weak solution of Mosquito Dunks® -  Bacillus thuringiensishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacillus_thuringiensis israelensis, applied weekly can knock out infestations
 
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05584.html
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fungus_gnat
 
[SIZE=10pt]http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/Urban/fungusgnat.htm[/SIZE]

 

[teejay]

Spot on SanPatricio - the larval pictures from the web say it all.
 
I suppose for small time growers like myself it's a big risk since they can reduce the germination count by a non-trivial percentage.
 
It so happens that this year I'm using a blend containing Orchid mix, my own (hand ground, coarse grain) perlite and some peat mix (maybe 15%?) to add a bit more moisture since my summers are very hot and using black plastic pots can dry things out rapidly.
 
I hear you about bottom watering, and if I read between the lines correctly, maybe laying off the jiffy pellets.
 
I have never germinated from anything other than jiffy pellets, but I could use a few more examples of some types of plant and so today I'll try my hand with germinating directly from orchid mix. What's the worst that could happen ?
 
Answers and advice greatly appreciated.
 
Regards,
 
Tim
Just thought as well, does that mean I should (ideally) transfer the seedlings to the next stage already to get them out of the peat ? (i.e. 2 inch pot and orchid mix or the like)
 
Most are a couple of inchs tall and the cotyldons and looking strong, but no real true leaves yet.
 
Is it better to transplant younger so there's not as many roots to "shock" ?