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Super Tiny Bright Red Moving Dots

15 years ago

I bought 6 new herb plants at a local organic nursery last week. I brought them home in a tray and briefly left them on my kitchen counter. Later, I noticed several teeny-tiny bright red moving dots on the counter -- I assume they were bugs, but they were so small (smaller than a period at the end of a sentence) they were impossible to see clearly. I smashed them all and washed my hands.

A few days later, a basil plant from a different source that I planted in the same container with the new herbs got munched -- something has chewed on its leaves.

Do you think there's any connection between the moving dots and the damage to my basil? And do you have any idea what the moving dots are? And finally, should I ever buy plants from that nursery again?

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Comments (10)

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
15 years ago
I'm going to guess that they aren't major plant pests at all, but perhaps related to clover mites. I seriously doubt if they're red spider mites, if that's what you're thinking.

I also doubt that those little red thingies are chomping on your basil.
Katxena
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks. I just looked up red spider mites, which were described as "reddish brown." These were more of an orange red.

I was worried that they were comping the basil. I have squirrels around here and of course other bugs, so I'm sure something else could have gotten it.
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whirlmatt
15 years ago
I have these, too. They are all over the stones at the edge of my bed, and I squashed a bunch that were on my chocolate mint and lamb's quarters the other day. I haven't seen any damage to the plants, but there are a TON of these. Very tiny, needle point size, bright-orange red, easy to squish. I'm about to transplant a bunch of things into the bed though, so I'd really like to be sure about what these are and what they're up to....anyone?
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
15 years ago
i might score another here ... lol

box elder babes.. check the link

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: link
whirlmatt
15 years ago
searching the web i'm not finding any pics that look like 'em. I went down to the bed and observed em for a while. They are from the size of a needle to a pinhead, and the larger ones look exactly the same - uniform bright red, ovalish body (as far as i can tell, they are tiny), 6-8 legs. They scurry pretty fast, many of them roaming on the foliage, some of them stationary. They are also on my thyme, I noticed.
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
15 years ago
This is the time of year for the clover mites to get active. They will be commonly found on non-plant surfaces, patios, siding, but feed on grasses and other plants but are not considered major pests unless they decide to invade the home.
whirlmatt
15 years ago
http://agspsrv34.agric.wa.gov.au/ento/pestweb/Query1_1.idc?ID=247419235

this is what i've got: the red-legged earth mite. thanks for the lead rhizo.

now...what to do about them, organically>?
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
15 years ago
whirlmatt, I'm not sure (from a bit of research) that the red-legged earth mite is found outside of Australia. Have you found a source that says otherwise?
whirlmatt
15 years ago
No. However, the visual confirmation is pretty strong.
jeffseattle
15 years ago
whirlmatt, here's a link to CSU's clover mite page, with tips for control. They list an organic control option -- "The best cultural control of clover mites is to try a little winter watering in those sites where the mites thrive - at the south and west sides of buildings. This can greatly retard populations increasing in spring." Doesn't help you right now, unfortunately, but you'll have a jump on next year.

Here is a link that might be useful: Clover Mites

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