You Might See a Mite
April is that time of year when all of nature is holding its
breath awaiting the warm breezes and gentle rains of spring. We are all sick and tired of cold and dark
days. Well, we are not the only
ones! Many insects are becoming active and
some of the earliest ones are actually arachnids or in the spider family. Yep, I said spider. Not big eight legged freaks but small, almost
microscopic mites. The big question is what are they and do they bite?
Clover mites can startle you because they can appear in
large numbers but they are harmless to humans.
They do not feed on us or breed indoors. Clover mites, like their name feed on clover
and grasses. They are very small, reddish-brown creatures that appear only as
moving dark spots to the naked eye. A red-brown
stain is left behind if they are crushed; this is the mite's body pigments, not
blood. Once inside a home or building
they will soon die.
Red velvet mites are larger (1-3mm). These mites are
predatory and you may see them crawling on trees looking for a meal. Young red
velvet mites eat insects, adults eat other arthropods. They look soft and velvety, not slick and shiny
like ticks.
Spider mites are common pests in our houses and
landscapes. They can inflict serious
damage to trees, shrubs and flowers, indoors and out. Both evergreen and
deciduous plants may be attacked. They are named for their ability to produce
silk, which they spin on host plants. These mites are tiny, about the size of
the period at the end of this sentence. They can also be very prolific, which
is why by the time you see the webbing most plants will have been damaged.
Chiggers can show up any time now. Chiggers are the larvae
of a family of mites that are sometimes called red bugs. The larvae are what
cause us such misery. Chiggers are extremely small (0.5 mm) and are difficult
to see without magnification. The six-legged larvae are hairy and yellow-orange
or light red. They hang out in low, damp places where grass and weeds are
overgrown. The adults do not feed on blood and are large, red mites often seen
running over pavement and lawns.
Tick larvae are also active in early spring and may fool
you, if you see them, as they have 6 legs instead of 8. They may be immature
but they are still after a blood meal!
They climb up from the ground and will literally wait on vegetation for
a host to walk by. If the population is
high one could find themselves covered in the tiny blood suckers. Don’t forget to wear protective light color clothing (the better to see
them with my dear). Get the upper hand
by preventing the first bite, wear long pants tucked into socks. Repellants for
your skin like Deet (20% and higher) along with clothing and gear
sprays(repellant) can provide good protection.
Don’t forget to check for ticks regularly when you and your family are
outdoors including your hair.
Enjoy the wonderful spring weather and get started growing your plants and veggies. Remember that Mother Nature has jump started other creatures and we
could be on their menu!
If you would like more
information on ticks and mites in Kentucky, the Critter Files are for you!
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