Do spider mites bite humans?

Spider mites occasionally bite people when they brush past potted trees or directly handle plants, but this does not happen often. Spider mites are not capable of living on or within human skin. Bites look like a small pimple with a red circle surrounding it.

Spider mites dwell on the undersides of leaves. They spin silk webs to protect their eggs. Their tiny mouth parts are designed to inflict damage to plants and trees, but not to humans. In some rare occasions, their bites have been known to cause allergic reactions in people. Spider mites are only visible in bright lights and look like small red spiders. They are only able to live near their food source, so they don't stray far from plants and trees.