Red mites, not sure if they are varroas

[Snakey]

Hello all. I'm a newbie beekeeper from Maryland. So I've seen some bright red mite-looking things on bugs around my hive. There was a grasshopper with two on it and there was a daddy long legs with some. These things were bright red, not brownish like the pictures of varroa mites. I looked closely at my bees while inspecting them and saw nothing on them. I'll check my sticky board in three days but in the meantime can anybody tell me if these were varroas? Do they eat grasshoppers and spiders, or are these things something else? Thanks.

[jmblakeney]

I am not for sure if varroa have made as far north as Maryland or not.  At first it sounded like you were talking about red aphids.  But, I don't believe they feast on grasshoppers and such.  It could be a red mite which do feed on grasshoppers but they still do have the brownish color.  Without seeing a pic its hard telling.  Perhaps a quick google search could help identify what your seeing.

James

[joebrown]

I think varroa is just about everywhere in the world now, but they are definitely not bright red. If you do not see them on your bees I would not be to concerned!

[Snakey]

Thanks much for the replies! Varroa mites are indeed a problem in Maryland, sadly. I'll continue to keep an eye out for them but after doing some reading I think these bugs might be something called a "grasshopper mite" lol, which is a relief!

[AllenF]

Chiggers.   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiggers

[mjb1]

I hate those things they make me itch so bad i want to scratch the skin off. If you apply some clorox with a Q tip to the bites it stops

[Snakey]

I am, unfortunately, very familiar with chiggers, and that's not what these things are that I've been seeing. Thanks for the replies!

[Michael Bush]

Varroa are an obligate parasite of the honeybee.  I have seen them on Bumble bees, but as I understand they can only reproduce on honeybees and I'm guessing they brushed a honey bee and the Varroa hitched a ride.