| I have little orange bugs EVERYWHERE. They are smaller than a pin head and leave an orange stain if you try to brush them off. What are they? What do they do? And are they harmful? Thank you! |
| They could be spider mites, which, if that is the case, are usually gotten rid of with a natural insecticidal soap. Or you can easily make your own by diluting Dr. Bronner's organic liquid soap in a dollar store spray bottle. (Get either the mint or the eucalyptus.) |
| They might be chiggers if they're in woodsy or wild areas. Chiggers are a kind of mite. Here in Florida they're often found in Spanish moss. If your bugs are on cultivated plants and flowers they're probably not chiggers. Chiggers bite humans and other animals, not plants (that I know of...). |
| Everywhere, as on all your plants? If so, then they are likely aphids which are small soft-bodied, sucking insects. They come in a variety of colors, including orange and usually congregate in groups. They can simply be washed off plants with a jet of water from a hose. Doing this for a few consecutive days usually eliminates the problem. Soap sprays are also effective. If they have already done damage to the plant by their sucking, then prune the infested part and enclose in a plastic bag to eliminate the destructive insects. Lady bugs have voracious appetites for aphids so don't use chemical sprays which will also harm the beneficial lady bugs! |
| I would count the number of legs-6 legs would be an insect and likely an aphid; 8 lgs and they could be a velvet mite- one of the good guys- a predator of other mites and small insects |
Clover Mites - See google description matches your info identically!!  https://www.americanpest.net/p... Clover mites will crawl from the ground to invade your home through cracks and tiny openings around windows and doors. Inside, you may find them crawling around window sills, on walls, or directly on windows. No larger than a pinhead, these red bugs will leave behind a tell-tale stain when smashed. For the most part they feed on clover, grassy lawns, plants and weeds and tend to appear by the thousands in the spring and fall months. |
| It looks like there are lots of possible answers. You can bring an example into your local extension office to show to a master gardener. It would be really helpful to see the bugs. I would guess spider mites, but it is hard to say without seeing them. |
| If they are not moving and seem more like a powdery stain or small orange dots it could be rust disease (fungal infection) - try organic fungal spray after removing the affected parts if possible. |
| it would be nice if we could post pictures. i have orange aphid like creatures on my serviceberries that have orange powder around them. I'm hoping ants will find them |
