Question
I just dispatched two tiny little red bugs that were crawling on my Nepenthes Sanguinea african violet pot that the plant resides in. I don't know if they were spider mites or not, but they were small and they left a red streak on the pot when I crushed them. Is my plant heading for an infestation? How do I nip this in the bud, so to speak, before real problems develop? My three tropical pitcher plants are in african violet pots and seem to be doing quite well on their south-facing windowsill. I have them sitting in rainwater. At least nobody's croaked off yet! Your expert advice is appreciated.

Answer
Hi Rochelle,

Those certainly could be spider mites.  They are a common plant pest and thrive in warm temperatures where the humidity is low.  As a precaution, spray your plants with either Neem oil or permethrin.  Safer?brand makes products that contain either of these compounds.  Use the product as directed by the manufacturer.  You may need to spray again in 7 days to eradicate the infestation.  After that, just keep a watchful eye and spray as needed.  

If you prefer, you could also remove them by hand using a wash cloth.  Dip the cloth in a solution of warm water and a drop or two of liquid soap.  As long as you keep the soapy water out of the soil, this method is safe for Nepenthes.  If you use this method, you'll need to inspect every nook and cranny to get rid of the infestation.  Otherwise the pesticides indicated above will get rid of them.

Good growing!
Jacob Farin