Jonzjob Posted May 4, 2011 Share Posted May 4, 2011 Anyone know what these are? They appear in their thousands when it's warm. Not on plants but on our terra-cotta tiled terrace and window ledges. If you squash them by standing on them they stain everything with a bright red spot! A real pain if you sit on the terra-cotta.. They are about 1/32" long, so tiny little perishers.[IMG]http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f180/Jonzjob/Nature/Redspiderthingy.jpg[/IMG] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nomoss Posted May 4, 2011 Share Posted May 4, 2011 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spider_mite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted May 4, 2011 Share Posted May 4, 2011 These are the colouring spiders which used to be used for dying (sic, Angela), called coccineal spiders, named afetr the man who discovered them![6] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nomoss Posted May 4, 2011 Share Posted May 4, 2011 [quote user="woolybanana"]These are the colouring spiders which used to be used for dying (sic, Angela), called coccineal spiders, named afetr the man who discovered them![6][/quote] Not quite. Cochineal comes from scale insects - cochenille in french BTW.http://membracid.wordpress.com/2009/01/12/cochineal-its-a-bug-and-a-feature/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonzjob Posted May 4, 2011 Author Share Posted May 4, 2011 That sounds near it Wooly, because if you sit on them with a light coloured pair of shorts on then as soon as you stand up and turn round everyone asks what the cochineal (if French cochenille) have you been sitting in?NoMoss, these don't appear on any of our plants, just on the flat, warm surfaces of the terra-cotta, stone and metal surfaces. The metal is on the top of our ground level solar panels.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted May 4, 2011 Share Posted May 4, 2011 [quote user="nomoss"][quote user="woolybanana"]These are the colouring spiders which used to be used for dying (sic, Angela), called coccineal spiders, named afetr the man who discovered them![6][/quote] Not quite. Cochineal comes from scale insects - cochenille in french BTW.http://membracid.wordpress.com/2009/01/12/cochineal-its-a-bug-and-a-feature/[/quote]Check my spelling, not the same creature at all![:P] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonzjob Posted May 4, 2011 Author Share Posted May 4, 2011 Be carefully of yer skins Wooly! They can be slippery me-thinks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nomoss Posted May 4, 2011 Share Posted May 4, 2011 [quote user="woolybanana"][quote user="nomoss"] [quote user="woolybanana"]These are the colouring spiders which used to be used for dying (sic, Angela), called coccineal spiders, named afetr the man who discovered them![6][/quote] Not quite. Cochineal comes from scale insects - cochenille in french BTW.http://membracid.wordpress.com/2009/01/12/cochineal-its-a-bug-and-a-feature/[/quote]Check my spelling, not the same creature at all![:P][/quote] You're making it up [:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted May 4, 2011 Share Posted May 4, 2011 Would I dare?[6] Made up is much more fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nomoss Posted May 4, 2011 Share Posted May 4, 2011 [quote user="Jonzjob"]NoMoss, these don't appear on any of our plants, just on the flat, warm surfaces of the terra-cotta, stone and metal surfaces. The metal is on the top of our ground level solar panels..[/quote]Obviously the terra-cotta, stone, and metal-eating variety, then [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonzjob Posted May 4, 2011 Author Share Posted May 4, 2011 If so they still stain yer ass if you sit on them which is more than any that would haunt roses?I learnt to never sit on roses! They grow on you, or so I've heard? Or is it something to do with a little prick???[:-))][:-))] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pads Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 We get them here as well JJ (Cornwall) they are always on our window ledges in the summer , they dont seem to harm anything except cream coloured shorts .....!!!I have always called them red spider mites.....I dont think they are the same red spider mites that destroy plants as they are much much smaller .... but I may be wrong !!! But we have never had any damage to our plants near where they run....so I have always left them alone ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 Just seen one up here in the NE of England. See them every summer.It's the gendarmes I don't see here that I was used to seeing in France. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 [quote user="idun"]It's the gendarmes I don't see here that I was used to seeing in France.[/quote]And they can be bad for your cream coloured shorts if they catch you speeding.[Www] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonzjob Posted May 5, 2011 Author Share Posted May 5, 2011 Damjams! We had a near experience a little while back when we went to lunch at one of our favorite restaurants. We were followed into the carpark by a dark blue car with the dayglo strips on it! I wondered what was going to happen next and thought I had been got at last[:-))][:-))]We took our chocky lab for a little walk before going in and were confronted with 14 of the lovely 'men in blue' [:-))][8-)][:-))]It turned out that the local clan had gathered for a luncheon one that day! It was a picture to see the faces of several people wot walked in to see a very large table of these 'lovely people' enjoying their lunch and plenty of wine flowed too!My cream shorts stayed nice and fresh in their draw at home and the rest of me relaxed and enjoyed our lovely lunch knowing that the place was the last place on earth to have any problems!!Not that the Epicurian in Conque sur Orbiel is anything less than superb anyway!!! Been there again today, lovely stuff. 3 good course meal with wine and coffe for 14€ Can't be bad!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martlin Posted October 15, 2011 Share Posted October 15, 2011 These are red spider mites and they are probably gathering on the tiles because they are warm. The problem is their larva as these bite and embed themslves into the your skin and then itch like mad. The larva are known as Aouters here because they are at their worse in August. They are microscopic so you don't see them. They tend to embed themselves in warm areas like around waistlines and under clothing straps. At first I thought I was getting bitten by mosquitoes but when I consulted my Doc he nodded sagely and said "aouters". You can buy products for them at the parmacy but generally they advise to keep out of long grass in the late summer....hope that helps :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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