Little Red Spiders

[redimp]

When I was digging earlier I disturbed a nest of little red spiders  :'(.  The adult was about 1cm wide (inc legs) and about 1cm long.  It was bright red and its legs were postitioned forward.  I have tried identifying it using the internet without success.

If I had a digital camera I would have taken a picture at the back.  Now if I pass round this collection plate... ;)

[redimp]

[tim]

Don't know, but I would say 'don't worry' - they're not THE red spider!

But what?? Post one to HDRA?

[redimp]

No - they were pointed out to me as the mite but they were way too big - and I should think it is still a lot too cold for them as well.  All spiders are welcome in my lottie, garden and home - biological control of other minibeasts. 

I had great fun picking the little black beetles off my runners last year and dropping them into the hammock webs that are in my extensive ivy.  I actually managed to condition the spiders to come out when my hand hovered over their web and not run away like they had done at the start. ;D

[derbex]

Try :

http://www.xs4all.nl/~ednieuw/Spiders/spidhome.htm

[redimp]

I had a look at that site - unfortunately I once ran a monitor callibration program on my computer and the monitor has been a little dark ever since (cannot seem to do anything about it) and I have not been able to see my spiders in any of thsoe pictures.

[kenkew]

Eh! Red. Do you have a lime tree close by?

[Palustris]

Red spider mites have ten legs anyway, if you have a good enough magnifying glass to count them!

[ciderself]

I've seen these HUGE red spiders on my allotment for the first time this year. They are quite scarey and I wonder what kind of damage they are going to inflict?

[djbrenton]

They might posibly be chiggers ( often mistaken for spiders ) which don't harm plants but do latch onto humans and leave little bites.

[redimp]

I have never heard of chiggers and cannot find much info on the net about them - and chiggers sound a bit too small - something I am grateful for.