This is my first post here. I hope it's in the right place.
I am trying to get some pepper seeds started. The first set I planted (two cups, two seeds per cup in a seed starting tray). Only two sprouted and without cotyledons. I then planted four more, this time seeds from a more recent save. A few days later (today) I was digging around in the soil just to see if anything had started to come out, and found a seed that looked like the beginnings of a root popping out. Then I noticed the root was moving. After prodding gently with a toothpick, I noticed the root responding to my touch. So I dug a little more with a toothpick, and found several of the little critters in both trays!
I don't know what they are, but they only seem to have affected the pepper plant segments of the tray. I have four tomato seedlings looking healthy and vigorous as can be. It seems as if they are eating their way into the seeds and eating the cotyledons off the ones that sprout before they can get to them.
The soil is Miracle Gro seedstarting mix. I cleaned and bleached the seed starting tray, the water tray, and the wicking mat that bottom waters prior to putting any soil or seeds in the system.
Can someone please help me??? I just need one plant, as I have no space for a garden. Just one for the container!!!