Does anyone know what kind of bug this is?
by Karen C
+24
Does anyone know what kind of bug this is? My cousin has them all over her yard and she is afraid to let her son play out there. We really need to know any info about it.
22 answers
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Well Karen, I DON'T KNOW what this is, OTHER than very bright red, but I don't think it's a scorpion - tho it could be a cousin . . . A number of years I was visiting relatives in NM and as we were driving down the highway you could see tons of scorpions crossing the road - and of course a lot of 'em got smushed too!! They were GIGANTIC - ewwwww!!! Actually, on second thought, I might be a bit confused after alll these years, I'm not sure anymore if it was scorpions or trantulas. Do you have both out there? LOL
![Susan S]()
Susan S
on Jul 06, 2012
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yes we have both we think its a type of tick but were not sure
![Karen C]()
Karen C
on Jul 06, 2012
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WOW! Thatsa TICK??? (maybe) Geez, that thing's a whopper, but at least he can't camoflouge himself too well like our brown ones do!! You can keep 'em!! lol
![Susan S]()
Susan S
on Jul 06, 2012
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That is one seriously creepy looking crawler Karen! Never seen anything like it and hope I neve rdo ...
![Linda @ it all started with paint]()
Linda @ it all started with paint
on Jul 06, 2012
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thanks everyone
![Karen C]()
Karen C
on Jul 06, 2012
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It does look like a mite, probably bites. We have very tiny red ones here in Ky.
![Mary T]()
Mary T
on Jul 06, 2012
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Karen: I have no idea what this is, however, I do know that diatematius earth will kill it. Diatematius earth is small pieces of silicone and when they touch it, it cuts them like glass and then absorbs all the fluid out of the bugs. Great for plants in the garden, like Thrip in roses, aphids, tomato worms, etc. Good luck. Karen R.
![Karen R]()
Karen R
on Jul 06, 2012
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Shelia G., from what I can tell of Karen's picture, it looks like you've found the right bug. If it eats grasshopper eggs, send some down this way!
![Becky H]()
Becky H
on Jul 06, 2012
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Yeah - but too bad it probably won't be much of a threat to voles!! I'd import a whole bunch of them. But then, since they're probably not native to the east coast I'd only create a bigger uglier ecological issue!!
![Susan S]()
Susan S
on Jul 06, 2012
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looks like a tic
![Darlene Clonts]()
Darlene Clonts
on Aug 11, 2014
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Just in case anyone still wants to know, that is a chigger. Nasty little beast!
![Charles M. Anderson]()
Charles M. Anderson
on Aug 15, 2014
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Thanks for letting us know!
![Mary T]()
Mary T
on Aug 16, 2014
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I thought chiggers were real small and hid in grass?
![Jean Marie]()
Jean Marie
on Sep 25, 2014
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They are not chiggers, they are Velvet Mites.....they go after grasshopper eggs! (See the link above) it does not say if they bite humans.....
![Joy Smith]()
Joy Smith
on Jan 11, 2015
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Agree with Joy. Not a chigger/red bug. Chiggers are so small you would need a macro camera lens to get this view. Shape reminds me of a stink bug, but I've never seen a red stink bug.
![EL Hoard]()
EL Hoard
on Jan 11, 2015
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Yes is a velvet mite http://www.insectidentification.org/insect-description.asp?identification=Giant-Red-Velvet-Mite
![Jackie T]()
Jackie T
on Jan 13, 2015
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This is definitely velvet mite. Oh!God you made me remember my child hood. They use to appear early morning after rain at night on open ground in loads (in India) We used to go for early morning walks and pick them up and keep them in tiny boxes with little mud in it. But alas! They use to die in a day or too. They are harmless and you can pick them up. And even children can make them crawl on the hands. If possible I can ask you to send me some to put them in my garden. I've seen these after a long time. U.K.
![Ruheena]()
Ruheena
on Jan 14, 2015
- See 1 previous
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Hope I never see one. Looks scary.
![Jane R.]()
Jane R.
on May 20, 2015
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Catch one, take to the local county extension and they will do the work for you. Your agricultural agent probably knows what it is without sending it in. Easy, free, and they can tell you also how to get rid of them they look nasty!!!!
![Eli mackewich]()
Eli mackewich
on May 21, 2015
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Very small & pretty arachnids. They are harmless & come out of hibernation after a rain; they are beneficial in that they eat ants & termites. http://www.insectidentification.org/insect-description.asp?identification=Giant-Red-Velvet-Mite
![BG Wilke]()
BG Wilke
on Sep 18, 2015
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Why would you worry to let your son outside?? It's a bug!
![Elaine Casselman]()
Elaine Casselman
on Mar 19, 2016
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It is outside, so it appears to be a tick.
![Jan]()
Jan
on Oct 09, 2016
Susan S
on Jul 06, 2012
Karen C
on Jul 06, 2012
Linda @ it all started with paint
on Jul 06, 2012
Mary T
on Jul 06, 2012
Karen R
on Jul 06, 2012
Becky H
on Jul 06, 2012
Darlene Clonts
on Aug 11, 2014
Charles M. Anderson
on Aug 15, 2014
Jean Marie
on Sep 25, 2014
Joy Smith
on Jan 11, 2015
EL Hoard
on Jan 11, 2015
Jackie T
on Jan 13, 2015
Ruheena
on Jan 14, 2015
Jane R.
on May 20, 2015
Eli mackewich
on May 21, 2015
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