# Problem with Mites.. Need Help NOW !! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 28, 2003, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-mites-need-help-now/171611 "2003-04-28T05:35:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Helix1047](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecae2f/32.png) [@Helix1047](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helix1047)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-mites-need-help-now/171611/1 "2003-04-28T05:35:25Z")
Im an illustration student, and frequently bring home sample objects for reference. These include leaves, feathers, toys, and other stuff… A few days ago I brought ho a large lichen coverec branch. soon, I began finding lots of small **RED MITES** crawling throughout the room from the blinds, to the desk, to my bed!! :eek: I need to know if these are dangrous, because I know that ticks can carry a plethora of diseases. Do they bite? and what do the bites look like? I am located in northern TX. these mites are bright red and very small. they are found on trees here… \*\*Please HElp!!! \*\* Im quite paranoid with these around… and cant sleep until I know it’s safe…:eek: ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-mites-need-help-now/171611/2 "2003-04-28T05:52:46Z")
No worries. If they are the same one you are seeing on the trees they are _probably_ either European Red Mites or Citrus Red Mites - Both are plant pests, but are harmlss to humans. Chiggers will congregate on low foliage or plant debris while waiting for a host to drop by, but if they were chiggers you’d probably know by now ( one or more would have likely nailed you while you were messing with the branch ). Try doing a search for pictures of the above-name species and see if they look like what you have. - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-mites-need-help-now/171611/3 "2003-04-28T05:58:00Z")
Oh and I am unaware of any mite-transmitted diseases in the U.S. I don’t think chiggers carry anything and the mange mites ( scabies et al ) are just a “disease” in of themselves. - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![Helix1047](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecae2f/32.png) [@Helix1047](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helix1047)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-mites-need-help-now/171611/4 "2003-04-28T06:09:47Z")
OH GOD!!! They could Be chiggers!!! I looked for both but they both look alike!!! They are amll read and craw really fast… I dunno if ive be bitten so far. What do I Do!! ---
**Author:** ![Helix1047](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecae2f/32.png) [@Helix1047](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helix1047)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-mites-need-help-now/171611/5 "2003-04-28T06:47:35Z")
Hello?.. Please!! How do I tell the difference!! ---
**Author:** ![Pythagras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/45deac/32.png) [@Pythagras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pythagras)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-mites-need-help-now/171611/6 "2003-04-28T07:24:58Z")
I googled this: [http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2100.html](http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2100.html) ---
**Author:** ![Phage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a4c791/32.png) [@Phage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phage)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-mites-need-help-now/171611/7 "2003-04-28T11:35:32Z")
If they are chiggers, I suggest immediately burning the contents of your room, stripping bare and bathing in a strong solvent. Sure, you might lose some skin, but it is better than a chigger infestation. On the plus side, the chiggers that I have experienced are seemingly capable of teleportation but were fairly sedate in their movements. This might have to do with their size tho. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-mites-need-help-now/171611/8 "2003-04-28T15:33:37Z")
Most everyone has bed mites, they are in the mattresses & really don’t do much as they are so very tiny… I would talk to my local museum about these ‘red mites’ because they always have come through for me. I bring in a sample bug & they let me know what it is & what I can do about it. ---
**Author:** ![shelbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@shelbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shelbo)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-mites-need-help-now/171611/9 "2003-04-28T16:35:13Z")
From **Pythagras’s** site: “chiggers are so small that most cannot be seen without a magnifying glass”. They’re probably not chiggers. Squish 'em, and forget 'em.