millions of brown colored mites in woodchips.

[maxjohnson]

So I bought some eucalyptus woodchips from HomeDepot, which I have used many times before without problems. Used it to mulch 4 of my containers. Now I see there are a bunch of shiny brown mites infesting it.

I am certain my container mix didn't have mites before, I mixed it myself and didn't have a bunch of mites crawling on my hands, which is the case now if I handle these woodchips. I gathered the chips into a garbage bad and tied it, but it's too late for the containers.

I am not sure how damaging they will be, but level of infestation in the woodchips scared me a bit. I have seen brown colored mites in my soil before, but they never give any problem or damage greens, so I'm hoping these are benign. Still I'm really really mad right now.

[NewWestGardener]

oh, what a nightmare it must be. Sorry about the situation you are in. See if someone else may chime in with some helpful information, hope it is not too hard to manage.

[Tracydr]

Sulphuric powder should take care of them,just dust the chips.

[maxjohnson]

Thanks Tracy, I didn't realize it has so many uses. I guess it triple as fertilizer/pH adjuster, fungicide as well. I'll get a few pounds and a pistol duster.

[KarenO]

I can't see them very well with my old eyes on this phone. How many legs? They look like spiders to me and if so they won't hurt anything. maybe there was a spider egg sac in the wood chips. I am not against pest control but I am very much for ID first.
KarenO

[bower]

The interesting thing about mites is that there are mites that prey on other mites. They have an outtasite community happening, who knows what's going on unless your plants show troubles. You can buy mites to eat the nasty mites, if that evolves too...
One thing Max, you're a guy who really pays attention! And that is a really good thing for all of us you share your observations with. Thank you.

[Nattybo!]

Ugh, so gross! Sorry you have to deal with this mess do you have any diatomaceous earth to sprinkle all around your containers?

[Worth1]

They almost look like ticks.

Worth

[ginger2778]

6 legs with piercing sacking mouthparts. What are they on in the photo?

[kurt]

Spider/russet mites are real small with no armour.Scale has the armour waxy shell.Ticks do love chips.Where did the chips come from?Local landscape free chip?Georgia mini pine chips?I bought some large pine chips freom HD a year ago and am still fighting these long skinny tree ants that managed to slither down my neck and gave me some nice welts on my back.

[Labradors2]

The do look a bit like ticks. (Legs attached at the front and looking like crabs) but I cannot detect any heads. Could you possibly get a better photo?

I bought some mulch years ago, and we ended up with chiggers - yuck! I only discovered the source when a neighbor also had chiggers, and there was the newly-delivered mulch in plain view. Nasty things! I learned never to sit on the concrete step again!

Linda

[maxjohnson]

I think they are more mites than tick, that many ticks would be scary.

Based on this chart, it resembles soil mites the most.
https://media1.britannica.com/eb-med...4-8C1BBFF7.jpg

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by maxjohnson

I think they are more mites than tick, that many ticks would be scary.

Based on this chart, it resembles soil mites the most.
https://media1.britannica.com/eb-med...4-8C1BBFF7.jpg

You simply cannot imagine how many ticks I have had on me at one time in the forest.
Thousands crawling up my pants so thick they turned blue jeans brown.
And the countless I have had to pick off of me.
This was every day in the summer in Southeastern Oklahoma.

Worth