Tiny Red Bugs
There are many types of tiny red bugs that people commonly encounter in homes, gardens, or on pets:
- Bed Bugs (Cimex lectularius): 4–5 mm (adult), smaller for nymphs. Reddish-brown, flat, oval-shaped; newly fed bed bugs appear bright red. Found on beds, furniture, cracks, and crevices indoors. Feed on human blood; bites cause itching, redness, or small welts. Tiny red nymphs are often mistaken for small mites or other insects.
- Chiggers (Trombiculidae larvae): 0.2–0.4 mm as larvae. Bright red-orange. Found in grass, weeds, or low vegetation. Larvae attach to skin, inject digestive enzymes, and cause intense itching. Do not burrow, but bites leave red welts or bumps that can last days.
- Clover Mites (Bryobia praetiosa): ~0.75 mm, extremely small. Bright reddish color, round body. Found in lawns, gardens, and sometimes homes (often near windows or sunny walls). They crawl into homes in large numbers in spring and fall but do not bite humans or pets. Can leave red stains if crushed.
- Poultry Mites (Ornithonyssus sylviarum): Tiny red mites, especially after feeding. Found around chickens, birds, or nests. Can bite humans occasionally, causing irritation.
- Red Clover Root Aphids (Pemphigus spp.): Tiny red or reddish-brown aphids that feed on roots or leaves of clover and related plants. Mostly seen outdoors; harmless to humans.
- Red Fire Ant Larvae or Nymphs: Bright red when young, very small. Found near anthills or in soil. Larvae themselves do not sting, but adult fire ants can bite or sting.
- Red Flour Beetles (Tribolium castaneum): 3–4 mm. Reddish-brown elongated beetle. Found in stored grains, flour, cereal, and pantry products. Infest dry food; can contaminate food but are harmless to humans physically.
- Red Spider Beetles (Ptinidae family): Tiny beetles, reddish-brown, often found in stored food or grain. Do not bite humans but can contaminate food.
- Red Velvet Mites (Trombidiidae): 1–2 mm, larger species can be up to 10 mm. Bright red, velvety appearance. Found in soil, leaf litter, gardens. Predatory on other small arthropods or larvae; harmless to humans. Usually noticed outdoors rather than indoors.
- Scale Insects or Mealybugs (Juvenile Stages): While adult mealybugs are usually white, some juvenile or certain scale species appear reddish. Often on plant stems or leaves. Damage plants by sucking sap, but do not bite humans.
- Spider Mites (Tetranychidae): 0.2–0.5 mm, very small, often barely visible. Bright red (sometimes green, yellow, or brown), oval-shaped. Found on garden plants, indoor houseplants; they feed on plant sap. They often form fine webs on leaves; heavy infestations cause yellowing or browning of leaves. Not harmful to humans, but devastating to plants.
- Strawberry Mites (Aculops spp.): Tiny red, elongated. Found on strawberry plants or raspberries. Cause leaf distortion and plant damage.
- Tick Nymphs: Some ticks (like dog ticks or rabbit ticks) are reddish at the nymph stage. Tiny and often overlooked until feeding. Can bite humans or pets and transmit disease.
The identification of small red bugs can sometimes be challenging, as their appearance may vary depending on their life stage and environmental conditions. If you encounter red bugs and are unsure about their identity, it's best to consult with a professional entomologist or use field guides and online resources for more precise identification.