Red spiders

[lloyd1e]

My neighbours and I are suffering an invasion of minute red spiders all over the window sills and ledges and some have found them inside the houses. We don't think they are red spider mites as they aren't on the plants and they don't seem to resemble the pictures I found on Google. Any arachnologists around?

[Darrenlass77]

We get tiny little red spiders in very hot dry weather like we are having now. The year before last when we had similar conditions, they were all over the lime trees in my street and were making great inroads into our houses (victorian terraced) - cheeky blighters. I contacted the local council who told me that they WERE red spider mites which would be washed away with the next rain. This year, I keep finding them in the kitchen - not on any plants - and they are bigger than before !! I'm going to wipe everything down with a damp cloth and see what happens.

[Thunderbird+]

Names can be very confusing, red spider mites that damage plants are very small and more of an insipid orange colour in my oppinion. It looks to me, what you have is 'velvet mites' which are harmless and much bigger and brick-red. try giving velvet mite a google to id an image. Good Luck.

[lloyd1e]

Thanks both for your input. It does look like they might be velvet mites but now it's rained they seem to have disappeared!

[opalchick321]

I think I had the same problem last year. I put down ant powder which did kill them. There were hundreds and hundreds of them all over my window ledges. This year when they came back I put tea tree oil all along the window ledges and they've finally packed thier bags.

[lloyd1e]

I love the idea of tea tree oil! I've heard it cures all sorts of ailments so this can be added to the list!