Eeeww! What the Hell are these things?! Microscopic red bugs in the tub...

The warmer weather has brought out tiny 'red bugs' in homes. These minute creatures are clover mites. These insect relatives (they are closely related to spiders and ticks) are about the size of a 'pinhead' and are reddish or rust -colored. When viewed under a microscope (you might be able to tell with a hand lens), you can see the first pair of legs are quite long.

These mites are usually found in lawns where they feed on the sap of grass, clover, and other plants. Despite this feeding, they do not injure grass. Last fall, some clover mites moved from lawns to homes to spend the winter in protected cracks and spaces. As spring arrives, clover mites that are in or near buildings often enter homes, sometimes in large numbers. Due to their small size, they can easily move into buildings through small spaces in the foundation and around ground level windows. You are most likely to find clover mites on the sunny south side of buildings.

Although they can be quite annoying, clover mites are harmless to people and animals. Once clover mites are found in your home the simplest way to get rid of them is to remove them with a vacuum or to wipe them up carefully with a damp cloth. You do need to be careful because clover mites can stain fabric and other materials if crushed.

To prevent clover mites in the long term, cultivate the soil around your home in a band of 18 to 24 inches. This helps deter clover mites. You can plant flowers in that area but don't space them so close that clover mites can use them as a bridge across the soil. Landscape rock or wood chips are not effective barriers. As a last resort, you can treat the foundation of the house with an registered pesticide (dicofol , chlorpyrifos , or diazinon).

Running MItes
(02/02/2005) Help, what's this bug?
Hello,
We’ve been battling this bug with our Pest Control people, but nothing seems to get rid of them. They are very, very little reddish bugs that appear in my bathtub, bathroom floor, windowsill, and sink. If you smash one, it will leave a red “blood” stain. In the mornings is when they seem to be out the most. I attached a picture and it’s not a good one, but it’s the best I could get since they were so small. I live in SC now, but I also saw these bugs on rocks while growing up in PA, although the ones in PA were a lot brighter of a red color. From what I could see, I think they have 4 legs and 2 long antennae. I couldn’t find a picture of a Running Mite that looks like this bug or else that’s what I’d say these are. They don’t seem to be biting and I only itch when I think about them. Any help would be grateful.
Thanks,
Chuck

Hi Chuck,
You do have Running Mites and you don't have to worry about being bitten or itching.