Small, bright red bugs are often seen in and around homes. These tiny creatures are usually harmless. Understanding their identity and behavior can help determine if action is needed.
Common Tiny Bright Red Bugs
Clover Mites
Clover mites (Bryobia praetiosa) are common tiny bright red arachnids. They are oval-shaped, about 0.75 millimeters long, with long front legs often mistaken for antennae. While adults are reddish-brown, their larvae can be bright red. These mites prefer sunny areas, found on grass and other plants, especially in well-fertilized lawns. They gather on sunny sides of homes, like windowsills and siding, particularly in spring and fall.
Chiggers
Chiggers, the larval stage of mites in the family Trombiculidae, are another small red bug. These larvae are about 0.25 to 0.6 millimeters, nearly invisible. They are reddish-orange or yellowish and have six legs, unlike adult mites which have eight. Chiggers are found in damp, grassy, and wooded areas, such as tall grass, brush, and along streams or lakes.
Spider Mites
Spider mites (Tetranychidae family) are less than 1 millimeter, difficult to see without magnification. Some species, like the European red mite, are red. These mites have oval bodies and eight legs, known for producing fine silk webbing on plants. Spider mites thrive in hot, dry conditions and are found on a variety of plants, indoors and outdoors.
Velvet Mites
Velvet mites (Trombidiidae family), also called red velvet mites, are striking due to their bright red color and velvety texture from fine hairs. They are arachnids with eight legs, though their larval stage has six. Adults are typically small, around an eighth of an inch, though some species are larger. These mites are seen on rocks, planters, tree trunks, or the ground, especially after rain, as they spend much of their lives in soil.
Understanding Their Behavior and Impact
Clover Mites
Clover mites feed on plant juices from grasses and other lawn plants. They do not bite or sting humans, nor do they transmit diseases. Indoors, they are a nuisance, often invading homes in large numbers during spring and fall. Crushing them can leave red stains, which are from their body pigments, not blood.
Chiggers
Chiggers, however, cause irritating bites. Only the larval stage feeds on vertebrates, including humans. They do not burrow into the skin; instead, they attach to hair follicles or the skin surface and inject digestive enzymes to feed on dissolved skin cells. This causes intense itching, redness, and welts that appear several hours after exposure and can last up to two weeks. Chiggers do not transmit diseases in the United States.
Spider Mites
Spider mites feed on plants by piercing individual plant cells and extracting contents. This causes tiny yellow or white speckles on leaves, known as stippling. Heavy infestations can lead to yellowing or bronzing of leaves, premature leaf drop, and reduced plant vigor, potentially stunting or killing heavily infested plants. Spider mites are not harmful to humans or pets.
Velvet Mites
Velvet mites are predatory, feeding on insects and insect eggs, including common garden pests like aphids and termites. Immature mites can be parasitic on insects and spiders, feeding on their bodily fluids. Adults do not bite or sting humans and are considered beneficial in gardens due to their role in controlling pests. Their bright red color may serve as a warning to predators, indicating they taste bad.
Managing Their Presence
Clover Mites
Preventing clover mite entry is the most effective strategy. Sealing cracks and crevices around doors, windows, and the foundation deters them. Creating a grass-free zone, about 18 to 24 inches wide, around the home’s foundation, especially on sunny sides, also helps, as mites struggle to cross bare soil or pea gravel. If indoors, vacuuming is recommended, as crushing them can leave stains.
Chiggers
Managing chiggers involves avoiding their habitats and taking outdoor precautions. Wearing long pants tucked into socks and long sleeves reduces exposure. Using insect repellents containing DEET on skin or permethrin on clothing provides protection. After outdoor activities in chigger-prone areas, showering immediately with soap and water helps remove attached mites. Trimming overgrown vegetation and removing debris makes yards less attractive by reducing humidity and increasing sunlight.
Spider Mites
Controlling spider mites on plants involves non-chemical methods. Forceful water sprays dislodge mites from plants, especially from leaf undersides. Pruning affected plant parts and isolating infested plants also helps prevent spread. Horticultural oils, including neem oil, and insecticidal soaps are effective for treating plants, but use carefully on water-stressed plants or in high temperatures. Encouraging natural predators, such as predatory mites, also helps manage populations.
Velvet Mites
Velvet mites are beneficial, so management is not typically needed. If large numbers are present, hosing them off with water is an option. For persistent or widespread infestations of any of these mites, consulting a pest control professional provides tailored solutions.