Hi all I had to bring my plants in for a couple days because we got a really bad storm this weekend, I was checking them this AM and noticed on my jalapeno and bell pepper plants (more so on the jalapeno) there were these little red bugs. When I touched one, it just kinda popped and on my finger was a tiny amount of redish liquid. I've read through post on here trying to discover what they are, and was thinking spider mites but they don't really look like the pictures of spider mites I am finding. (and there isnt any web anywhere). http://www.thespatulsa.com/images/IMG_2149.jpg Please help!! moderator's note: added a more descriptive title to topic
Spider mites are too small to see with the naked eye and are not red. You probably disturbed a new hatching of 'blood spiders' They are tiny critters and they are red and squish red too. They are not harmful just a nuisance on indoor plants.
i don't know what red aphids are exactly, when I google image searched, the pictures showed red bugs with distinct legs...these don't really have legs. I mean, I have no idea what they are so it could easily be them, but these more look like red bodies, the legs are so small you can barely see them and the camera definitely couldnt pick them up. :/
Okay, more information will help confirm this. Do you see really small white things on the plant? If you do they should be immature aphids and will confirm this diagnosis. Best bet is to take one and get a microscope on it to see what it looks like or a high powered magnifying glass. There are so many different types of aphids it is boggling really. Some I saw with really long legs and distinct colors where others look like little green globs that have no distinct legs at all even when rather large.
I do see some white...they are really soft looking, kinda like dust. But definitely white spots around the red.
