I'm trying to identify and eradicate this small, reddish- brown disk-shaped thing that is multiplying rapidly. I am finding it mostly on the green leaves of my houseplants, but also on the nearby walls and window sills (as in the picture). It is about the size of a chili flake. Although it does not appear to move on its own, it is turning up all over the place around my plants. Is it an insect egg or dropping?

It is not pod from a nearby tree?

Some type of spider mite maybe, especially if its multiplying

lauriebasler said:It is not pod from a nearby tree?

No, there's no tree nearby and these things are either moving or getting moved all about the indoors of my house.

Christine said:Some type of spider mite maybe, especially if its multiplying

I don't see any legs on this thing and none of those tiny, spider mite webs around.

I'm amazed I can't find anything like this on the internet. Has me worried!

I've not seen anything quite like this. Where are you located?

plantmanager said:I've not seen anything quite like this. Where are you located?

Near San Francisco, CA

Thanks! If you have a macro setting on your camera, please try to get a closer photo. Is it softer like a dropping, or hard like a seed pod? We've had droppings around here that looked close, but not quite right. Ours are from lizards.

I don't know what it is, but you can send photos of it to your county extension office and they can usually tell you. Better yet, put some of them in a zip lock bag and mail it to them - make sure the zip lock bag is completely closed. I don't know where you are located, but you can just google "county extension office' along with the name of the county you live in. Have you tried to smash one of them?

plantmanager said:Thanks! If you have a macro setting on your camera, please try to get a closer photo. Is it softer like a dropping, or hard like a seed pod? We've had droppings around here that looked close, but not quite right. Ours are from lizards.

They are hard. Will take a closer photo when I'm back at my house. Thanks!

cwhitt said:I don't know what it is, but you can send photos of it to your county extension office and they can usually tell you. Better yet, put some of them in a zip lock bag and mail it to them - make sure the zip lock bag is completely closed. I don't know where you are located, but you can just google "county extension office' along with the name of the county you live in. Have you tried to smash one of them?

Thanks! No, hadn't though to smash one, but it's a good idea. Will try and report back.

Taking them to the extension agent is the best idea. They should be able to ID them easily. If they're hard, I'm thinking something nearby had their seed pods open.

Yeah, in my area it seems like the county extension office lives for stuff like this - they answer quickly and are full of information. I am wondering how they are sticking to your wall - are they sticky??

bruch said:

They are hard. Will take a closer photo when I'm back at my house. Thanks!

Alright, here's the best I could manage. Helpful? I'm liking the seed/seed pod idea. But from what plant? And what's moving them all about? This is all happening indoors (no wind).

bruch said:

Thanks! No, hadn't though to smash one, but it's a good idea. Will try and report back.

It does break apart if I crush it with my fingernail, but just too small for me to discern any parts.

cwhitt said:Yeah, in my area it seems like the county extension office lives for stuff like this - they answer quickly and are full of information. I am wondering how they are sticking to your wall - are they sticky??

Is this what you mean by county extension office?:
cesanmateo.ucanr.edu

They are not noticeably sticky to my touch, but yes, they are somehow sticking to the walls. They are so small, it might just be hard for me to tell that they are sticky to the touch.

I wonder if they might be spider mites?

bruch said:

Is this what you mean by county extension office?:
cesanmateo.ucanr.edu

They are not noticeably sticky to my touch, but yes, they are somehow sticking to the walls. They are so small, it might just be hard for me to tell that they are sticky to the touch.

Yes - I would send your pictures and inquiry to [email protected]
Dr Sheena Sidhu
Title: Staff Research Associate
Specialty: Entomology, Plant-Pollinator Interactions, Insect Communities, Beneficial Insects, Plant Pollination
Address:
Cooperative Extension San Mateo-San Francisco Counties
1500 Purisima Creek Road
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
Email: [email protected]

Do you have any pets in your house? Or were your windows or door left open?

cwhitt said:

Yes - I would send your pictures and inquiry to [email protected]
Dr Sheena Sidhu
Title: Staff Research Associate
Specialty: Entomology, Plant-Pollinator Interactions, Insect Communities, Beneficial Insects, Plant Pollination
Address:
Cooperative Extension San Mateo-San Francisco Counties
1500 Purisima Creek Road
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
Email: [email protected]

Cool, I'll give this a try. Thanks!