How to get rid of little red mites/ insects from my patio & garden furniture etc

Over the last few weeks I have noticed a large number of red mites (similar to dust mites but red in colour) all over my patio area in the back and around the paths out the front and on my window cills.

I've used roundup to treat weeds in the patio area in the last few weeks but it doesn't seem to have made any difference. They are also on the garden furniture so it's hard to sit out eating with these little things running around the table and the little one won't play out the back because of them.

Anyone any idea of what I could use to clear them before they end up in doors with the windows open in the current dry weather as they seem to be multipling, thanks.

Spray the areas with a 5% vegetable oil/water mix, and with some washing up liquid added in for good measure.

Smashbox said:

Spray the areas with a 5% vegetable oil/water mix, and with some washing up liquid added in for good measure.

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Thanks Smashbox will give that a go, their out in force today, obviously something to do with the good weather.

Yep, thats it exactly, they love the warm weather. The oil makes it hard for them to move or something, I remember being told about that concoction, and it works perfectly for me. I use it on the front walls, garden furniture and patio at the back of my house. They also love plants so keep an eye on any you have.

We get the little red mites all over our holiday home ( +€200!!!) .

Where will they go?? They aren't in the house & I don't want to drive them in there.

It should kill them. You could always spray them with the solution and then wash them away with a bucket of water or hose.

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I've used roundup to treat weeds in the patio area in the last few weeks

My neighbour uses salt on his weeds - says it's way cheaper. I've just used the last of my weedkiller and will try the salt then.

There's probably a little red mite forum somewhere on the internet discussing how to get rid of the humans squishing them with their big arses

If you spray your furniture with oil, will you not just end up with it all over your clothes?

joanmul be careful of using too much salt, it could contaminate your soil and could leach onto the roots of your plants/lawn. Of course Roundup will do that too...

For anything wooden would a bit of decking oil rubbed in not keep them away? At least it would dry in fairly quickly and I'm sure they wouldn't like the smell - plus at least it would probably be good for the furniture.

If you sprayed the area with oil/water/washing up liquid mix and rinse it off, the washing up liquid should wash away any oily residue.

I spoke to an entomologist many moons ago who told me that they appear when its very warm and return to their nest at night. To remove them one would need to find the nest and eliminate it - so follow the leader

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