| Maxine Clifton |
| | April 29, 2010 | Reply with quote | #1 |
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| I'm not sure if these bugs are friends or foes. I've seen them before, but lots this year. They are small (mayby 1/6 the size of a ladybug), bright scarlet red (like they are lit from within), with no other color or markings (even legs are bright red). I find them on the surface of my garden soil, or just under the surface, and not on any plants. They move slowly, are easy to catch, and are soft. They are oval in shape. Does anyone know what these are? My reference books and the Internet search have turned up nothing. Poulin's not able to help. The U of M Entomology dept have not returned my call. |
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| Rozmund | |
| Maxine Clifton |
| | April 30, 2010 | Reply with quote | #3 |
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| I think I've ruled out the lily beetle, because these little guys do not have black legs or antennae like the lily beetle. That was my first fear. |
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| Rozmund |
| | April 30, 2010 | Reply with quote | #4 |
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Well, let's see what the University comes up with, in the meantime, do capture some and send to them by mail..they like that....did you bring in any soil last year - I am stumped - but I think the advice given in the link would be good to follow. I have tried nicotine tea myself and it does work...just goes to show how toxic
tobacco really is...if their bellies are soft, the diam........earth should also help some ...there are many strange bugs lately with the high winds, imports coming from everywhere, food and plants ...please let us know what you finally learn. Sorry I could not be more helpful...I have quite a library myself on insects and their control, but also showed up nothing - also the season is 3 weeks early this year - so hard to tell what all of this hot dry weather is nurturing...natural controls and enemies may be out of sync.
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| Maxine Clifton |
| | May 03, 2010 | Reply with quote | #5 |
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| Hey, I think I've discovered that my little bugs are called Red Velvet Mites (Trombidium), and they are apparently not harmful. |
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| Rozmund |
| | May 03, 2010 | Reply with quote | #6 |
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http://www.cirrusimage.com/Arachnid_velvet_mite.htm
for the benefit of others I have included a picture packed link these seemingly very beneficial spider mites...who would have thunk it...I don't think I have actually seen one in my life...and I am an old sage -
but then our perennials beds are so thick and crowded, that anything could be living down at the soil
level, and I would never find it...until the plant shows sign of stress..
thanks for sharing...we are always in a state of 'becoming' gardener.
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