Angelitos
(10/03/2006) STRANGE RED FUZZY LOOKING BUG-FROM BAJA
Hello Bugman,
I think I've discovered a new bug, but maybe it has already been discovered and you could tell me. I call it the "Red Jelly" bug from the Los Cabos Area of baja. This bug only comes out after big rains or hurricanes and is gone a few days later when the ground starts to dry up. It has 6 legs and two large antennas, or maybe it is a spider with 8 legs but it is hard to tell. It's body is bright red and shiny like velvet, looks a little like a brain formation with legs and it is soft and almost "jelly like". It's about the size of half a pea and seems non-aggressive. Please write me back to tell me what you think it is and if it could be poisonous due to it's color. Thank you very much.
Paul Kops



Hi Paul,
We would have been able to give you an identification without a photo thanks to your vivid description, but we are thrilled to be able to include your photos with your letter. These are Angelitos, or Velvet Mites, Angelothrombium species. They attract attention when they emerge following rains. According to Hogue: "The larvae are parasites on grasshoppers and adults are predators on subterranean termites." Velvet Mites are not poisonous and pose no threat to humans.

Phoresy: Mites ride on Burying Beetle
(09/01/2006) whats this?
Bugman,
Thanks for the hard work you put in to your wonderful site! My sweetie and I have been exploring a meadow in central mass -part of an audubon refuge- and have become quite fascinated with the monarch butterflies and their exploding population. Over the past few months we've spent a lot of time there and we've been working on witnessing every stage of their amazing transformation. I have a terrible attention span, however, and at one point I wandered away from the shiny chrysalis I'd been staring at and got surprised by this bug buzzing around in the tall grass. I managed to snap a few pictures of it before it flew away, but I think this was one of the creepier bug-spectacles I've seen yet. Please tell us whether it's a mom offering her offspring a ride or a swarm of parasitical mites!
Andrew, Arlington Mass.



Hi Andrew,
This is neither. It is a beetle giving a ride to some Mites, a phenomenom known as Phoresy. We often get photos of Mites using Burying Beetles for transportation to a fresh carcass. This looks more like a Flower Scarab Beetle, but we will see if Eric Eaton can provide further insight. Eric quickly wrote back: "Had me fooled for a moment, too, but it IS a burying beetle, specifically Nicrophorus tomentosus, named for the yellow tomentum (fuzz) on its thorax. Eric"

Mites on Flat Backed Millipede
(06/12/2006) Flat backed millipede riders
Hi,
I know this is a flat backed millipede, but what are those mites riding on it? Maybe you could ask Barry M. O'Connor for me? I snapped this photo on 06/11/06 in Port Orchard, WA - he's about 2" long. Many thanks,
Kevin
PS - that big bug from 'toe biter' that you never identified - the bug in a jar that died at school? It didn't die from the stress of being at school, but probably from the stress of not being in water as it is a water beetle.



Hi Kevin,
We will post your letter and try to get the answer you requested. We can't seem to find the letter you cited. Please give us a page and date.

Barry OConnor Responds:
Hi Daniel - The division of the dorsal plate on the back of the mites on the millipede, and the smaller size of the posterior part indicate that these are deutonymphs (last immature instar) of the family Parasitidae. Despite their name, parasitid mites are not parasitic, merely riding on their host from place to place. The name dates to an 18th century misperception by the French naturalist Latreille who observed these mites on a beetle and thought they were parasitic and named them "Parasitus". The rules for naming animals require that the first scientific name given to an animal is the one we use, even if it turns out not to be appropriate. These mites normally inhabit rich but patchy sources of organic matter like manure or carrion where they feed on nematodes or fly eggs/larvae. It's rather surprising to see these on this millipede; they're much more commonly seen on scarab, carabid & silphid beetles that frequent such substrates. Others are specific inhabitants of the nests of small mammals and bumblebees, and their deutonymphs ride on those hosts. Other parasitids live in the soil and prey on other microarthropods but don't use other animals to disperse since their habitat is more continuous. Glad to help - you always have cool pictures!
All the best! - Barry

Balaustium Mite
(05/23/2006) This little red bug.
My Name is David Di Iorio. I ran across your link, and thought I would drop a line to ask a question. I live in central NJ, and on a nice sunny day, these little guys come out from all over. My backyard is 80 % cement, and seem to hang out on the patio and on the steps. But know, this year they are on top of the roof of my garage and appear to be all over. I need to get a handle on this and would like to know if they are harmful. Any information would be good if you can help. Some of the folks at work would like to know also.
Thank you,
David Di Iorio



Hi David,
Our first inclination would have been to say you have Predatory Running Mites, but we just received a very thorough explanation. Here is some information just supplied to us by a real expert named Barry M. OConnor: "All of the mites in the photos you call by this name are species in the family Erythraeidae, genus Balaustium. I think you have these confused with species in the family Anystidae, genus Anystis. Both of these mites are relatively large (for mites!), red in color, and commonly occur in aggregations. Anystis are the very fast moving, predatory mites. Their body is almost circular in outline. They run in what appears to be a random fashion until they encounter small arthropod prey. These are harmless to people. Balaustium, on the other hand, are more elongate as seen in your photos, with a distinct gap between the 2nd and 3rd legs. Species of Erythraeidae have piercing mouthparts and are also predatory on small arthropods or eggs in their post-larval stages, but Balaustium are unusual in being pollen feeders. They can be found in large numbers in flowers, but are most often seen by people on flat surfaces where pollen falls. These mites have been reported to bite people, causing some irritation, although why they do this is uncertain since they're not parasitic."

Burying Beetle covered in Phoretic Mites
(05/11/2006) beetle with offspring?
Hi There. We found this creature in our house one evening. It had small, moving, red creatures(?) on it’s back which I thought might be offspring or parasites. I’ve never seen this type of bug before. Can you help? We live in Santa Barbara, CA. Thanks for your help.
PW



Hi PW,
This is a Burying Beetle in the genus Nicrophorus. Here is a quote from a posting Eric Eaton made to Bugguide: "The mites are phoretic, meaning they are only using the beetle as transportation. This is a carrion beetle (Nicrophorus sp.), and once it arrives at a carcass, the mites will disembark (de-beetle?), and go about feeding on the eggs of blow flies, the beetle's major competition for the corpse. So, the mites actually benefit the beetle."

Update from Barry M. OConnor (05/23/2006)
Mites on burying beetles. These are as you indicate, phoretic mites in the family Parasitidae, genus Poecilochirus. Species in this genus all have obligate relationships with silphid beetles. Although they will feed on fly eggs, they also feed from the vertebrate carrion as well.

Predatory Running Mite
(05/09/2006) red mite
Hi,
I live in NJ and have these teeny tiny pin size red bugs covering my concrete porch and steps. They've also started climbing up my house around the door frame but haven't managed to get themselves inside yet. They appeared around this time last year and eventually went away, however this year there are many many more of them. They leave red stains when squished. They look similar to predatory running mites I've seen on your site, although I can't tell if they are exactly the same. What are they, what can I do, how long will they last? Are they dangerous to children? I have a 2 year old that is obsessed with them and as much as I try to keep her away from them, I'm fearful she'll get a hold of them sooner or later. Please help!
Kelly



Hi Kelly,
Generally, but not always, small predators need small prey. In the spring, newly hatched insects are small. Predatory Running Mites are more plentiful when their food supply abounds. As insects grow too large to be prey, the predator population will decline. These Predatory Running Mites will not harm your child.

Update From Barry M. OConnor (05/23/2006)
Predatory running mites. All of the mites in the photos you call by this name are species in the family Erythraeidae, genus Balaustium. I think you have these confused with species in the family Anystidae, genus Anystis. Both of these mites are relatively large (for mites!), red in color, and commonly occur in aggregations. Anystis are the very fast moving, predatory mites. Their body is almost circular in outline. They run in what appears to be a random fashion until they encounter small arthropod prey. These are harmless to people. Balaustium, on the other hand, are more elongate as seen in your photos, with a distinct gap between the 2nd and 3rd legs. Species of Erythraeidae have piercing mouthparts and are also predatory on small arthropods or eggs in their post-larval stages, but Balaustium are unusual in being pollen feeders. They can be found in large numbers in flowers, but are most often seen by people on flat surfaces where pollen falls. These mites have been reported to bite people, causing some irritation, although why they do this is uncertain since they're not parasitic.

Predatory Running Mites
(04/23/2006) Red bugs on the porch
Hello,
Great site! I live in Richmond, VA and the weather has been fairly warm for the last month. I've ventured out onto porch for the first time this year only to find several hundred little red bugs crawling over the painted wooden railing of my historic Fan district apartment. I am concerned that these bugs might be harmful in some way. It appears they are or are related to mites, but I was hoping you could confirm that with the attached macro shots. Sharpening in Photoshop has whitening the edges of their bodies slightly. Thanks,
Doug



Hi Doug,
They are Mites, but not all Mites are troublesome. These look like Predatory Running Mites that eat other small arthropods including young spiders and insects. They would be considered beneficial. We have been getting numerous letters lately without images from people complaining about the little red spiderlike creatures running around on their window sills. When squashed they leave a red mark. Thank you for supplying us with an image.

Update From Barry M. OConnor (05/23/2006)
Predatory running mites. All of the mites in the photos you call by this name are species in the family Erythraeidae, genus Balaustium. I think you have these confused with species in the family Anystidae, genus Anystis. Both of these mites are relatively large (for mites!), red in color, and commonly occur in aggregations. Anystis are the very fast moving, predatory mites. Their body is almost circular in outline. They run in what appears to be a random fashion until they encounter small arthropod prey. These are harmless to people. Balaustium, on the other hand, are more elongate as seen in your photos, with a distinct gap between the 2nd and 3rd legs. Species of Erythraeidae have piercing mouthparts and are also predatory on small arthropods or eggs in their post-larval stages, but Balaustium are unusual in being pollen feeders. They can be found in large numbers in flowers, but are most often seen by people on flat surfaces where pollen falls. These mites have been reported to bite people, causing some irritation, although why they do this is uncertain since they're not parasitic.

Western Conifer Seed Bug with Mites
(04/17/2006) PA bug with eggs on his head?
Sorry I can't even add any more than that. I'm totally skeeved out by bugs. It flys. One flew onto my friend's desk and then another one on her window. And perusing your website just made me want to wrap in mosquito netting and saran wrap my house. Any clues about the bug?
Nancy



Hi Nancy,
This appears to be a Western Conifer Seed Bug with a mild case of Mites. Mites will parasitize many other arthropods.

more Computer Loving Mites
(03/21/2006) Infested New Monitor
We received about 12 new Dell computers at our company a few weeks ago. While getting the first couple setup, I noticed small reddish brown "dots" moving around the flat screen monitors. After a little investigation, I found they seemed to be coming from an infestation inside the monitors. In particular, two monitors. Their shipping boxes had pinched burned or blacked corners, which probably occurred during shipping. I visited with Dell, and they are replacing the monitors. They claim their warehouse facilities are "clean" and inspected. As we have never had this happen previously, I will take their word this time. However, even a visit by Orkin and a bug bomb in the room where I had been working on the monitors....didn't kill the creatures. They are probably around 1 millimeter in size....if I'm guessing correctly. They seem to look like some sort of mite. I was finally able to track down a good macro lens today, and take a couple of pictures. They move relatively fast, though they do not jump and they have a soft shell body which squishes fairly easily. Orkin did bag several to send off to an extension of Texas A&M for identification. I'm still awaiting the news. Here are the two pictures of the "critters". Any help on identification and suggestions on eradication, would be greatly appreciated.
Robert (in West Texas)



Hi Robert,
This is a Mite, but we are not sure what species. This is not the first report we have gotten concerning Computer Loving Mites. We are curious if you get a proper identification from Texas A&M, Please let us know what you find out.

Update from Barry M. OConnor (05/23/2006)
"More computer loving mites" 3/21/06. This is a "clover mite", Bryobia praetiosa. This is one of the spider mites, but Bryobia species don't make the silk webs most often associated with this group. Bryobia are plant feeding mites that are rather non-specific and often feed on plants growing in lawns or otherwise around homes. This species is unusual in that it overwinters as adults and seeks out warmer places in the fall. They commonly enter houses or other buildings. The spider mites belong to the order Trombidiformes, like Anystis and Balaustium, and many, like Bryobia, are also red in color. The dark material seen in the photo is ingested plant material. These are harmless to people, but will leave a red mark on the wall if you squish them!

Computer Loving Mites
(01/03/2006) My laptop's infested!
Hello there!
About two weeks ago, crawling down the screen of our (immaculately clean, less than a year old) laptop, was a speck barely a millimetre across. I though, How cute! There's a living thing on our laptop! Now, I love insects and do not give in to urges of wanton annihilation. So I usually, and peacefully, show them the way out the window. However, this morning I woke up to find scores of these animated specks doing the locomotion on our monitor! Lately the screen has been giving us the occasional, brief flicker. Were these incidents manifestations of our animated friends crawling over, and shorting, the circuit boards? I want them gone! I'm attaching photos. Sorry about the fuzziness, but there's only so much a macro lens can do. Remember these creatures are all less than 1mm across. What are they? Where do they come from? What do they feed on? Why did they get into our monitor? How do we get them out without breaking the computer apart? Your advice is anxiously awaited.
Best,
k
Malta



Hi K,
We suspect your computer loving critters are a species of Mite. The question, and the root of the eradication, is why are they after the computer? Sadly, we don't have an answer. We suspect they might be in your dwelling for another reason. They could be Bird Mites or Rodent Mites, of just Predatory Mites. Sadly, the photo isn't detailed enough for us to give you an exact identification, and we are not experts in the order Acari even if the photos were tack sharp.

Hello, thank you very much for your reply! Since then we have discovered them everywhere in my tiny 3m x 2.5m study. On books, papers, other bits of furniture or equipment... Now we live in a fairly new apartment, built entirely out of stone. The study has one ventilator leading to the outside, which is protected by a plastic grill on the outer wall. So I guess that would eliminate both rats and birds as a possible source. I've called over a pest control technician. He said that they're wood mites (?) and that they need moisture to survive. Now this being a new place, and with this winter having been particularly wet (and also, with Malta being a small island in the Mediterranean), we've had problems with excessive humidity. The technician suggested installing a dehumidifier in the room, and he said that once we bring humidity down, the mites will die on their own. There must be some truth in what the technician said, in that I've discovered fairly large concentrations of mites on the covers of hardback books without dustjackets, which seem to be more prone to humidity (in fact one was going mouldy without my realising that it was... and this in the space of just three weeks since I had last used it). We have now installed a dehumidifier, which is kept on all the time, but still, the mites keep coming out...
k

Update from Barry M. OConnor (05/23/2006)
Computer loving mites (1/3/06). This is a species in the family Acaridae, genus Tyrophagus. One of the most common mites found in homes or other buildings, Tyrophagus putrescentiae, sometimes called the "mold mite" will feed on a wide range of organic materials. They are white, somewhat oblong in shape, and have long body setae. They can be part of the normal "house dust fauna" and may be a minor source for house dust allergy. They're fairly desiccation tolerant as mites go.

Mites in the Pantry
(12/16/2005) Please Identify
Hi
We found a lot of these small white bugs - they are about the size of small specks of salt/pepper in a wicker basket which has been in a dark cupboard. They also seem to move very slowly. We threw away the basket, and were wondering if they will multiply, and if there is anything that we can do to get rid of them. Please could you identify and advise ?
Many thanks
Pali Rao



Hi Pali,
These are Mites of some type, most probably Food Infesting Mites. Certain species can cause problems in humans. They are linked to a malady known as Baker's Itch.

Update from Barry M. OConnor (05/23/2006)
Mites in the pantry (12/16/05). This is probably a predatory mite in the family Laelapidae. Species of Stratiolaelaps and Cosmolaelaps are not uncommon in the "house dust fauna" and eat the other mites.

Mites on Reptiles and Remedy
(11/10/2005) small mite type bug in reptile cage?
What is it?  Are they harmful?  There were a bunch in the snake water bowl where the snake was laying.  They are quite small, less than 1/2 mm.
Thanks!!
Kevin



Hi Kevin,
It is our suspicion that these Mites are up to no good in the reptile cage. You should try to get rid of them.

Mite Remedy (12/31/2005)
Hello WTB, I ran across your wounderful website today while trying to save the life of a missunderstood house centiped that had been called a silverfish by a staff member today. The critter ran past us and avoided a near squishing foot by ducking under our surgery table. I had seen this guy or his relatives in our basement from time to time and though they can move very quickly and startle me they have never seemed to have any intentions of harming anyone. I managed to capture our visiter in a urine cup...it's all I had and it was sterile =x and decided I would try to identify him so that he would not be sentenced to death simply for being scary. Well your website saved his life and proved he was not a silverfish, but a house centipede that would take care of any spiders or other insects he could find. I released him in our basement and the other staff memebers agreed he was scary but better than having spiders around. His new name is Fluffy. After work I revisited your site, I've been a long time fan of bugs and can still be seen with my head in a bush if I see something interesting. As I browsed around I saw a post from someone named Kevin on 11-30-05 on your mite page. His snake's cage has been invaded by some mites. While I do like bugs and insects, I realy hate ectoparasites. My columbian red tail boa, Link, had a similar problem this spring. While our office does not see reptiles we researched the topic and came up with a plan to free my snake of his friends. I changed his cage completely, discarded all items that could harbor mites, branches, sticks and the like. Link himself was treated with Frontline Spray (fipronil), this is an off lable use, and Merial the company that makes the product has not tested it for use on reptiles. Kevin should check with a local reptile vet before treating his snake. We sprayed a paper towel with frontline and gently wiped Link down then returned him to his cage. In cats and dogs you have to wait 24 hours before giving them a bath after applying frontline. I did not want to deprive my snake that long so I returned his swimming pool after about 6 hours. The mites have not been seen or heard from again. I hope this helps Kevin's poor snake.
Jessica Leonard, CVT

Thank you Jessica for your awesome solution as well as the anecdote of the House Centipede in the operating room.

Update from Barry M. OConnor (05/23/2006)
Mites on reptiles and remedy (11/10/05). This is the "snake mite", Ophionyssus natricis (family Macronyssidae). This is a very serious, blood feeding pest of many snakes, especially captive individuals. They can be a mortality factor if the owner lets numbers build up in the enclosure. These mites feed only on blood, but remain off the host unless feeding. They can quickly build up a significant population. Keeping the snake enclosure clean is the best preventative.

Unidentified Mite, maybe? or Louse? or Tick?
(10/07/2005) Bugs galore--love your site!!
I am IM-PRESSED with your site.....as a veterinary technician and inveterate curious person, it is absolutely invaluable and beautifully done. (the American Dog Tick, if I recall correctly, is Dermacentor variabilis.  The tiny black-legged one on the bottom of your tick page is most likely one of the Deer Ticks, Ixodes.) Now, here's one for you to help me with!  Found two of these guys so far after working out in the yard, and have several bites of unknown origin as well, although I have NOT seen the bug attached to me as yet.  But when I itch, I scratch, and got these guys. Eight legs, long piercing mouthparts, hard bodied ('pop' when I smooshed him), blood-like fluid exuded when popped. Ideas, please!! My usual references are failing me....
Thanks!
Pamela Alley, RVT
Oroville, CA



Hi Pamela,
Thanks for the compliment. We have no idea what you sent in. Probably a Mite. We are also posting your letter on our Louse and Tick pages. Maybe if it is posted, someone else can identify it. The picture is awesome.

Update from Barry M. OConnor (05/23/2006)
Unidentified mite, maybe?... (10/07/05). This is a parasitic mite in the family Macronyssidae, genus Ornithonyssus. These are the most common "bird" or "rodent" mites you mention. These are similar to the Ophionyssus mentioned above in living in the nest material and feeding on the host blood. Ornithonyssus sylviarum (the Northern fowl mite), O. bursa (the tropical fowl mite) and O. bacoti (the tropical rat mite) all occur in California; the first two are parasites of a wide variety of birds, the last parasitizes rodents, commonly commensal rats. All readily bite people when the normal host is no longer around. The remedy is to locate the bird nest or get rid of the rat problem.

Angelito sent by Angel
(09/16/2005) whats that bug
Hello There,
I was hoping you could help me out.  I was out at my grandparents house in New Mexico taking pictures of various things.  I noticed a tiny red dot moving in the dirt and found this spider.  It's a very interesting spider to me, I have never seen anything like this.  I couldn't stop taking pictures of it, I find it to be kinda cute haha.  Please tell me what this spider is called, Thank you so very much.
Angel =)
(Sorry about the blur, first time using macro on my new camera and no tripod.  I hope these pictures are usable.



Hi Angel,
This Velvet Mite is your namesake, the Angelito. They are predatory mites living in desert areas and they feed on grasshopper eggs.

Velvet Mites or Angelitos
(09/05/2005) Red furry bug
Hello
I found you on the Internet and it sounded like you would welcome Entomology questions.  I have lived in the Phoenix Arizona area for over 50 years and frequently walk in the deserts of our great valley.  I recently moved and now back up to the desert so I have the opportunity to walk the hills even more.  Yesterday I was taking a hike up our mountain by the house and found a red furry looking insect, but don't know what it is.  I know growing up I used to see a different type of furry bug in a variety of colors; we called them "cow killers" but am sure that is not their real name.  I have attached a few pictures of the bugs I just saw and would ask your assistance in identifying them.  They actually look like ticks, but never saw a tick like that.
Thanks so much for your response 
Chris



Hi Chris,
Cow Killer is a common local name for a Velvet Ant, a female flightless wasp. You have Velvet Mites, or Angelitos. These desert dwellers usually appear after rain and are predatory on grasshoppers.

Burying Beetle covered in Mites
(08/03/2005) Love your site! A new website record for you--number of bugs per inch
Here's a picture that has got to be a record for the number of bugs per square inch.  A bug buddy of mine tells me this is a Nicrophorus (negrita?) carrion beetle (about the size of a large bumblebee). Hard to tell with all the pinhead-sized phoretic mites covering it.  After some "Googling", I found that the mites actually have a mutual symbiotic relationship with the beetles (although they really were a hindrance to this beetle!).  The mites use the beetle for transport and then destroy blowfly eggs and other competitors of the beetle at the carcass. This beetle could hardly get in the air, but it managed to fly through my back door (buzzing loudly) and crash around before I could catch it.  I'm not normally scared of bugs, but this was a little creepy.  Since they're all good guys, back out the door they go!  I'll try to get a few more pix before I do that. The mites kept running around quite rapidly as well, which probably didn't help.
Janet Sugino
Brinnon WA (Olympic Penninsula area)



Wow Janet,
A killer photo as well as the research that needs to accompany it. You are awesome.

Update from Barry M. OConnor (05/23/2006)
Mites on burying beetles. These are as you indicate, phoretic mites in the family Parasitidae, genus Poecilochirus. Species in this genus all have obligate relationships with silphid beetles. Although they will feed on fly eggs, they also feed from the vertebrate carrion as well.

Angelitos
(08/02/2005) What are these?
My ISP (Earthlink) sent me a few 'links' they thought were interesting and yours was included. The story goes like this; My wife and daughter recently went to Laredo, Texas for a visit and brought these 'bugs' home for me to see. My wife said, when her and her brothers were young, they would play with these. She said they would only come out after a rain. The photos I took are the best I could do since, they never seem to stay still long enough to focus. They move like I have seen 'ticks' move (never seeming to stay still and their covered with a kind of 'felt', furry, or tiny hairs which is hard to see in a photo. It's my hope you'll be able to I.D these and let me know what they are.
Thank you,
Terry



Hi Terry,
That Earthlink plug has really clogged our mailbox, and many people will be disappointed since we can only reply to a fraction of the letters. These are Velvet Mites known as Angelitos. They are predatory, live in desert areas, and emerge after rains.

Mite Infestation
(07/31/2005) Mites
Dear whatsthatbug.com,
Our apartment has been infested by what we think are mites. The small   ones are white-ish, whereas the slightly larger ones are brown.  They   are about the size of a period at the end of a sentence. Both of us   have been bitten all over and the rash and level of itchiness, is   about the same as that of a mosquito bite. We see the mites in close   proximity to the windows facing the alley between our building and   the next. We live in Manhattan so it is not hard to suspect we've   become the target of either rat- or bird-mites. Could this be the   case and if so - what should we do?
Thanks,
Andrea & Jon



Hi Andrea and Jon,
We are cleaning out the mailbox and just discovered your letter. You do have Mites and Bird Mites or Rat Mites are a good guess. It is difficult for us to tell the species based on photographs. Mites are difficult to eradicate and professional assistance is recommended.

Velvet Mite: Angelito
(07/23/2005) More info
I recently emailed you about a bug I had found and was curious about what it was. I found some more today and managed to get some pictures. Any info would be great. I am just curious. Thanks so much.
Sincerely,
Julie Tompkins
Hereford, AZ



Hi Julie,
This is a Velvet Mite called an Angelito, Angelothrombium species. They are giant red mites found in the Southwest deserts usually following rain. The larvae are parasites on grasshoppers and the adults prey on subterranean termites. When it rains, they emerge in large numbers.

Mites on Harvester
(06/28/2005) Red dots on daddy longlegs
Dear Bugman ,
I saw this daddy longlegs in a trumpet vine flower near Richmond , VA. Not all that interesting except he (or she) had several red dots attached to his legs. What are those dots? Babies, eggs or some kind of mite? I find your website very informative since I discovered it a few days ago.
Gregg



Hi Gregg,
You are correct with the Mite choice. Your photo is superbe.

Update from Barry M. OConnor (05/23/2006)
Mites on harvester (6/28/05). These are parasitic larvae in the family Erythraeidae, genus Leptus. Leptus species can be found parasitizing a wide variety of arthropods in their larval stage. Post- larvae are predatory.

Mites
(06/21/2005) HELP...bugs on our newborn's head!!!
Hi Bugman,
My wife discovered the attached on our newborn son's head. It doesn't look like lice (at least to the layperson), but it's the size of a pinhead. These pictures were taken from a 30X stereoscope. What are they??? Are they "dangerous"??
Please help,
Thanks,
Mark & Gina



Hi Mark and Gina,
You really need to pay a visit to the doctor. I can't tell you exactly what kind of Mite has infested your child, but it doesn't seem like a good thing.

Hi Bugman,
We solved the mystery...it's bird mites. It appears that when young birds leave the nest there is nothing to feed on so they migrate into the house. According to the University of Madison, they only live a few days & the best remedy is to remove the source (the old nest). Thanks for the help & quick response.
Mark & Gina

Update from Barry M. OConnor (05/23/2006)
Mites on newborn's head (6/21/05). Another Ornithonyssus. This is a parasitic mite in the family Macronyssidae, genus Ornithonyssus. These are the most common "bird" or "rodent" mites you mention. These are similar to the Ophionyssus mentioned above in living in the nest material and feeding on the host blood. Ornithonyssus sylviarum (the Northern fowl mite), O. bursa (the tropical fowl mite) and O. bacoti (the tropical rat mite) all occur in California; the first two are parasites of a wide variety of birds, the last parasitizes rodents, commonly commensal rats. All readily bite people when the normal host is no longer around. The remedy is to locate the bird nest or get rid of the rat problem.

Predatory Running Mite
(06/14/2005) please identify these bugs
Hello,
My property has become infested with millions of little vibrant red bugs.  The look like tiny spiders or mites.  if you squash them, they leave bright red marks like blood stains.  They are everywhere on our driveway, the exterior walls and windows of the property.  Absolutely everything outside is covered with them.  They appeared last summer and were gone before winter.  They have returned about 2 months ago and are much worse than last year.  I have washed the driveways down with pesticides and soap which kills them off, but by the next morning, they are all back again.  Please help me to get rid of them.  My house is located next to allotments and there is about 1/2 acre of lawn in my backyard. a few trees and small shrubs. I think they might be red spider mites.
Thank you in advance,
Lee



Hi Lee,
Your Mites are the good guys, Predatory Running Mites. If they are plentiful, there must be a food source, possibly damaging insects or other arthropods, upon which they are feeding. Sorry we do not offer extermination advice.

Update From Barry M. OConnor (05/23/2006)
Predatory running mites. All of the mites in the photos you call by this name are species in the family Erythraeidae, genus Balaustium. I think you have these confused with species in the family Anystidae, genus Anystis. Both of these mites are relatively large (for mites!), red in color, and commonly occur in aggregations. Anystis are the very fast moving, predatory mites. Their body is almost circular in outline. They run in what appears to be a random fashion until they encounter small arthropod prey. These are harmless to people. Balaustium, on the other hand, are more elongate as seen in your photos, with a distinct gap between the 2nd and 3rd legs. Species of Erythraeidae have piercing mouthparts and are also predatory on small arthropods or eggs in their post-larval stages, but Balaustium are unusual in being pollen feeders. They can be found in large numbers in flowers, but are most often seen by people on flat surfaces where pollen falls. These mites have been reported to bite people, causing some irritation, although why they do this is uncertain since they're not parasitic.

Mites in the Mustang
(06/14/2005) strange car infestation
Hi.
A few months ago, I was constantly bothered by the sensation of bugs walking on me.  We've had a lot of ant problems at our house, and frequently there would indeed be an ant walking around on me.  But the problem continued even in the absence of any visible ant or other bug.  Finally I stormed into the bathroom to take a good look in the mirror and find out what was walking on my face.  I found a barely visible bug on my cheek, which I removed with Scotch tape. Not only would I be appalled to find that I had lice, but these bugs do not fit the description of lice.  They are far smaller than a sesame seed, which is usually used to describe the size of a louse.  Nonetheless, I had to do something; as I was shopping for lice spray at Walgreen's, one of these bugs walked out onto my thumb, which provided a perfect opportunity to test the spray.  It appeared to kill the bug, so I sprayed my couch, mattress, and pillows, and washed everything. The next day the problem seemed reduced but I still felt crawly.  During the evening I got in my car to drive across town, and I found bugs walking across a map I had just printed out and thrown on the passenger seat a few minutes earlier.  I checked some other papers on the seat and realized that my car was infested with these things.  I couple of weeks earlier, the carpet behind the driver's seat had become soaked (with clean water) when I started to wash the car without realizing that the window was down slightly.  Could this have caused the proliferation?  Hm. I was forced to set off a full-room insect fogger inside my Mustang convertible, despite warnings that the product isn't to be used in a room smaller than 5' x 5'.  I taped protective plastic over the speedometer window and the radio beforehand.  I'm happy to report that the bugs were eliminated, the car unharmed, and even the "pine" smell dissipated in a couple of weeks.  Of course, a convertible is easy to air out. I attached pictures of these creatures taken through a microscope.  The object in the main shot is the point of a thumb-tack for scale; these bugs are probably the smallest I've ever seen.  The bugs' legs are longer than was immediately apparent; you can see them better in one of the shots. I live in L.A. Thanks for any insight!
Gavin Stokes



Hi Gavin,
We checked with Eric Eaton who concurred you have some species of Mite. He recommends contacting an Acarlogist at Ohio State University if you need to know the species.

Mites that bite
(06/02/2005) what are these buggers?
Dear Dr Bugman,
We have suddenly and violently been infested by these tiny mites.  My boyfriend is bitten (and itchy) all over but I have not been touched.  We think they have come in through the window and are speculating that they could be from the nest of pigeons below our window.  I have included a few photos. You can see them against the frame of my powerbook...that frame is about 1/3" wide.  The smallest ones are white, the slightly larger ones are a dark brown. They appear to have 2 antennae.   We just fumigated with a product from the store.  What are they? Will this work?
thank you so much,
Laila Ames



Hi Laila,
The symptoms you describe are consistant with Bird Mites, but we can't give you anything more conclusive based on your photo. From what we hear, biting mites can be very difficult to erradicate and may take professional help. Good luck.

Culture Mites
(02/14/2005) Dear Sir
We have a dairy and we specialize in hard and soft cheese (France and Italian Style. For the last few weeks we see a development of   brown layer with small particles  on some of our cheeses. This layer seems to deteriorate the cheese (small holes). Under a microscope it seems like kind of insect (pictures attached).  We will appreciate if you could help and advise  to identified the insect, it's origin and ways to disinfect. Thank you in advance
Best regards
Michal Lidor



Hi Mike,
You have some species of Culture Mite, possibly of the genuses Acarus or Tyrophagus. We have been unable to locate any specific information except that they infest foods. Sorry, I can't tell you how to disinfect without destroying the integrity of the cheese.

Update from Barry M. OConnor (05/23/2006)
Culture mites (2/14/05). You're right that this is a species of Acarus, most likely Acarus siro. This is the most common "cheese mite" infesting cheese produced in traditional operations. As a historical note, this species was the first mite named by Linnaeus!

Running MItes
(02/02/2005) Help, what's this bug?
Hello,
We’ve been battling this bug with our Pest Control people, but nothing seems to get rid of them. They are very, very little reddish bugs that appear in my bathtub, bathroom floor, windowsill, and sink. If you smash one, it will leave a red “blood” stain.  In the mornings is when they seem to be out the most. I attached a picture and it’s not a good one, but it’s the best I could get since they were so small. I live in SC now, but I also saw these bugs on rocks while growing up in PA, although the ones in PA were a lot brighter of a red color.  From what I could see, I think they have 4 legs and 2 long antennae. I couldn’t find a picture of a Running Mite that looks like this bug or else that’s what I’d say these are. They don’t seem to be biting and I only itch when I think about them. Any help would be grateful.
Thanks,
Chuck



Hi Chuck,
You do have Running Mites and you don't have to worry about being bitten or itching.

Not Locust Mites but Larval Water Mites on Dragonfly
(08/07/2004) mites?
Hello Bugman,
I just came over your site on the internet. I like taking macro shots of insect and today I have taken an interesting one. There are were some red dots on the wing of a dragonfly. I think maybe they can be some sort of insects or mites. I live in Hungary, Europe I hope you can help me anyway...
Best regards.
Ambruzs Péter



Dear Ambruzs Péter,
Your photo is beautiful. We suspect you have photographed the Locust Mite, Eutrombidium rostratum. Essig writes that it : "is the common locust mite of the United States and Europe. It is a large bright red species. ... They are often taken on the body and wings of grasshoppers, crickets, katydids, and mantids, and do not attack humans." Even if it is not that exact species, you have most definitely photographed mites hitching a ride on your dragonfly.

Update from Barry M. OConnor (05/23/2006)
Locust mites on dragonfly (8/7/04). You're close here. These mites are related to trombidiids, erythraeids and chiggers, but are actually larval water mites in the family Arrenuridae, genus Arrenurus. Water mites have the same life cycle as their terrestrial relatives (i.e. parasitic larva, predatory post-larvae), but the predatory stages are fully aquatic, living in ponds, lakes and streams. Arrenurus species commonly parasitize odonates. Unlike the red larvae, the post-larvae are a beautiful greenish blue, and are good swimmers in ponds & lakes.

Angelito
(06/23/2004) Furry Red Spiders
Recently I have been doing alot of yard work and i've noticed that there are the strangest bright red furry little spiders or insects crawling around everywhere. They are really slow, and they are about the size of pencil eraser or a little bigger. Some of them actually look like they are outlined in white, and these tend to be a little larger. When they are threatened they curl up into a little ball and seem to like buroughing in the dirt. Can you tell me what these bugs might be? I've searched everywhere and havn't found an answer.
Thanks
Ashley

Hi Ashley,
There is a family of mite known as Velvet Mites, Trombidiidae, and one species, the Angelito, Angelothrombium pandorae, is a giant red velvet mite that is found in desert areas. According to Hogue: "These creatures never fail to attract attention because of their large size (the body length of adults is about 1/4 to 3/8 in.) and brilliant crimson furry bodies. The larvae are parasites of grasshoppers, and the adults are predators on subterranean termites. The adults remain in the soil most of the year and spend only a few hours above ground, probably to feast on their prey, which also respond to rains by emerging in numbers. Little else is known of their biology."

Biting bug in our beds
We recently had a guy’s weekend at my father’s cabin.   Everyone that slept in the loft was bitten by bugs looking like the one in the photo.  To the eye this bug looks like a moving brown speck about 1/32 inches big.   This picture was taken on one the sheets that we were sleeping in.   I think it may be some kind of a bird mite.   We found an empty birds nest under the eves out side the cabin, which we removed.
The other bug, red bug, was also found on the sheet, but since I could only see one of these, I think that it may have come from outside where I was taking the pictures. 
We are trying very carefully not to bring these bugs home, by washing our clothes etc.
Could you please identify these bugs and let me know how hard it will be to keep these bugs out of my house.
Thanks
John

Hi John,
Both of you photos appear to be mites.  The biting mite from the bed could be a Mouse Mite, Allodermanyssus sanguineus or Tropical Rat Mite, Ornithonyssus bacoti as well as a Bird Mite.  All will bite humans if their preferred host is not available.  You should consider washing all your clothes in hot water to avoid transporting the critters home with you. The Red Mite is probably a species of predatory mite that eats small insects, spiders and other mites.

(01/05/2004) Biting red spots
Help!  Our family has been being bitten in bed for about one week.  We wake up at night from the bites, but nothing is visible.  In the morning we are covered with bites. We have ruled out bedbugs, headlice, bodylice, and "crabs."  It just so happens that this biting started with some moving around of things in the attic.  Just now, my daughter found the tiniest of red spots of her homework, and then on her hand, and then on the ceiling fan.  We grabbed some clear tape and then put the spot under the microscope. It is the ugliest little red thing with a sucking type mouth and what seem to be four pairs of legs.  It is still moving under the microsope.   It is not roundish, like a crablouse, but slightly elongated and slightly tapered at the end of the abdomen. The only thing that we can find pictures of that even comes close to looking like this is in the mite family.  Can you give us any idea as to where to look on how to deal with this!  In the meantime, we are doing our best to deal with the bites and to get our attic taken care of.
With thanks
The Burke Family

Dear Burke Family,
I think you need to seek professional help, from a dermatologist as well as an exterminator. Parasitic mites from the family Dermanyssidae have very specific hosts, but are known to jump species if their normal food source isn't available. Perhaps some type of bird mite or mouse mite was living in your attic. Bird mites often can be found in empty bird nests. Either could be your culprit. Good luck. Here is a drawing of a chicken mite from Essig's book.

(11/6/2003)
I really want to know what those little red bugs that are the size of a pinhead are called and what their purpose is. I always see them on rocks, mostly near water. I can't find them in any of my books and I have no idea where to start looking on the internet. Please let me know, it's been bothering me forever.
Thank You,
AK

Dear AK,
I believe you are curious about Running Mites from the family Erythraeidae. These are common, very active mites, larger than most species, usually red, very hairy, with long and slender legs, the hind pair sometimes more than twice the length of the body. They are predaceous and the young are often attached to insects, while the adults are usually on the ground, stones, logs or trees over which they run very rapidly. All stages prey on other mites and on small insects. As such, they are beneficial.

(11/6/2003)
I thought it was very fine coffee grounds I was sweeping up, but my daughter said it was some kind of bug. Upon further inspection, she is right, they do move. It looks like very fine pepper crawling on my white floor and into my cupboards. Any idea what this might be and how to get rid of it? I live in Florida.
Thanks,
Linda

You might have some type of food mite, and the only way to get rid of them is to get rid of the food source. Cleaning out the pantry and starting with new dry goods is a good start.

CHIGGERS!
(4/25/03) Dear bugman,  I live in the Shenandoah valley of Virginia, last summer our yard became infested with a small biting insect barely visible to the naked eye(maybe a centimeter in length)it appears to fly or jump and seems to be particularly attracted to white clothing. They are  a reddish brown in color and leave a nasty stain when crushed. They have since enterd m y house but have not multiplied  in numbers like the ones outside. The local exterminators are basically clueless. I feel like they are some kind of mite but I have no way of confirming my suspicions. Can you help identify?   Respectfully yours Eric

Dear Eric,
You might have chiggers, mites belonging to the family Trombiculidae.  They are sometimes called redbugs, and can be a real nuisance in humid climates.  They can cause itching welts.  Adults grow to 1/16 inch and are covered by a dense furry coat of bright red or orange feathery hairs.

ICKY WHITE BUGS!

(1/28/03) My friend and I have little white bugs living in the soil of our plant. When we water the plants they float to the top of the soil then go back in once the water goes down. My friend tried to put dish soap in the water but that didn't kill them. How can we get rid of them without buying a spray for them.
I have asthma and my friend is disabled. It would be easier if we could get a home remedy. Can you please help us. In my last email I failed to mention that our plants are indoor plants there are 5 different kinds of plants we own and 3 of them have the white bugs.

Dear Annette,
    Your letter doesn't specify if you have a full on infestation or just a few bugs. If they are big enough to see, they are big enough to be removed manually when they float to the surface. If you are squeemish, try tweezers.
   A better suggestion, especially if you have many bugs, is to use the old flea bitten fox trick. Remember the fable of the fox who had fleas, so he grabbed a stick in his mouth and went for a dip? The fleas moved to his head to stay dry, and as they moved to the stick, the crafty fox let go of the stick, and was rid of the fleas for a bit.
Try submerging your plants in a bucket of water, when the pests rise to the surface, pour off the water into the toilet, and let the plant dry out. You may need to do this several times to rid the plants of the pestilence.
Sorry your description was so vague, I can't really identify your pest properly, but they might be a variety of soil mite. It is also possible that they are not actually harming the plant, and have just taken warm refuge in your dirt. Dirt in the garden is full of insects and their kin which are actually beneficial.
Good luck.