Little red spiders

[Geezer]

Got loads of the bastards! Upstairs, downstairs you name it they appear. Anyone got any ideas?

[Vass]

George, Fred, Wilma, Norman ?

[Vass]

These (if they are really tiny, and leave a bit of red dye when smashed) are actually common red spider mites. A miticide can kill them, but only if you can see a plant where they have attacked in force. The attack looks like little white spots because the spider mites have special mouths designed for sucking out the centers of plant cells.

Garden centers usually don't use miticides though, they typically use a specialize lady bug which usually feeds on aphids or mites, or sometimes they'll bring in another kind of mite called a "predatory mite". Not recommended for the inside of your house though.

[Mark D Smith]

google

Mark

[EricP]

Yes, whatever you do don't squash them!

Use a vacuum cleaner to suck them up and immediately empty them.

[Blueyonder]

Get a flat.

At least then you won't get them upstairs !!! :-)

CG