Question

I reside right at the border of Carefree,AZ in North Scottsdale, in an area that has quite a few types of snakes, insects, bobcats coyotes you name it chances of what ever "that"is, it probably hangs out in my neighborhood!
Recent;y I was in my side yard and noticed a  large number of what appeared to be red eggs of some sort they are rather small about the size of a dime, although they are tiny they have me scared to death!
I'm afraid to get anywhere near them! They are in a shady area between my gate and the stucco wall of my home. There are quite a few I would guess at least 20 or more. What do I do and what do you suppose they are?


Answer
Suzette,

I'm not sure what these are but I don't think they are insect related unless they are moving. They sound more like some type of fungus. If this area gets watered I'd guess they are a soil fungus. You might take a picture and submit it to one of the fungi experts. I'm sure it is harmless. If they are moving they are probably velvet mites, a type of large predatory mite that lives in the soil. Velvet mites also are harmless. Here's a wikipedia page about velvet mites http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velvet_mite that may be useful.

Jack DeAngelis
http://www.livingwithbugs.com