Tiny Red Bugs in Sandbox

They seem to be everywhere this Spring! They haven't posed a problem at our house, but the kids are fascinated with them. Sorry I don't have any technical answer for you!

They are tiny little mites that come with the grass. We use to get them in our old house (inside our bathtub) because there was a window that apparently wasn't sealed too well. They are harmless. My son likes to 'fingerpaint' with them. If you squish them and drag them, they leave a red trail. Quite interesting.

I agree with Sue M. Let's all hope they're just harmless little mites.

Insecticides can be extremely toxic to humans and animals (rabbits, squirrels, a neighbor's cat who wanders through your yard, etc.), so try to use the most homeopathic treatment possible. You can search on line for organic gardening supplies to be sure that anything you use in the future is safe for use around children and animals.

Good luck! I hope your little buggies are gone, and that everyone is safe and sound now.

Yes, I have seen a lot of them this year all ready.
Seen them on and off for years (I am 56). Never did know what they were and my dad just called them red bugs. My grandfather called them clover mites.
I know they really aren't dangerous but they are a bother!
They aren't around all summer so that is helpful, just a few weeks to a month.

Sounds like baby boxelder bugs. Are they all little red teardrop shapes, some bigger than others? They seem to like damp places (I remember seeing them in piles of dead leaves around my dad's shop when I was a kid) and they grow up to be about 1/2" long and dark gray with a little orange triangle on their butt. Completely harmless, just annoying because where there is one there are 5 bazillion.
Chiggers are too small to see--that's not what you have.
I would just let the bugs be. They don't hurt anything and your son will probably find them fascinating.

They may be clover mites

Hi S.,
My name is M. V. and though I'm not 100% positive...It sounds like chiggers though.
Good Luck.
M. V.
Melaleuca-The Wellness Company-Dedicated to bringing your family eco-friendly products !!!

depend on wwere u live but i think there red anuts and the bit the some lil bad things stay clear of those

Where I come from we called them "blood bugs" They're harmless, yet a pain in the hiney while they're mating right now.. Give it 1-2 weeks & They'll be gone.

we used to have tiny red bugs on the cement areas around our pool ... we called them red spiders... if you smash them, you get red on the ground or fingers (or whatever you smash them with.)

I think they are mites. I've seen the same thing in my garden I had a couple years ago. I was thinking I used a dishsoap and water solution and that cleared it up.

Aphids maybe, gather in a sand bag or mayo jar & take to your local garden store/greenhouse. They'll know what to do!

Tara's right.... just little mites. We get them all around our in-ground pool. My boys love to make the red trails, too! They are harmless and interesting little bugs.

The grass bugs that some people have mentioned are called clover mites. You can look them up online.

Do you have a box elder tree nearby - or a lot of box elder bugs - they COULD be baby box elders. They look like what you're describing, but not sure that they "jump". Box elder bugs are harmless, just annoying...but you may want to confirm with an expert.

The bugs you are talking about may be chiggers. If you start getting little, red, itchy bumps, then the bugs have been identified. I was told these bugs that fit your description are chiggers, and if that is true you can go to this website to learn more. Good luck. http://kidshealth.org/kid/ill_injure/bugs/chigger.html

My fiance says that they are either aphids or red fleas. They will make you itch and leave welts on you like misquitos or like a flea.

They are probably chiggers. I have seen a few lately and now my baby and I have a few red bites. If they are chiggers the bites will show up, usually around the pantie line and itch like crazy. Just dab clear nail polish on them or a small square of duck tape.