CLOSED: some sort of mite?

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1alh1 Sidney, OH(Zone 6a) May 26, 2012

The rocks around my garden pond are alive with thousands of tiny (about the size of a period at the end of a sentence) reddish-orange bugs. They mill around erratically at high speed and do not fly. When squashed, they leave a red smear on the rocks. They remind me of mites, but they are so small, I can't even see their legs let alone count them. And if they are mites, why are they on rocks rather than plants? Their nearly-microscopic size seems to preclude a predatory or running mite label. So what are they?

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Flapdoodle Minot, ND May 27, 2012

They almost certainly are mites; one possibility is clover mites - http://www.doyourownpestcontrol.com/clovermites.htm

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1alh1 Sidney, OH(Zone 6a) May 27, 2012

If they are clover mites, do I need to treat the areas where they are found? And if so, what should I use? They are near my pond, so I can't use anything toxic to fish or plants.

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Flapdoodle Minot, ND May 27, 2012

Clover mites do no real damage; control measures not necessary.

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1alh1 Sidney, OH(Zone 6a) May 28, 2012

Thanks, Flapdoodle. I noticed them in my front yard, too. I laid my trowel down, and a minute later, they were crawling on the surface. At least I don't have to spray any toxins around my beds or pond.

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