Steve Calvin said:

Pat Kiewicz wrote:

Red mites swarming all over the side of the house, etc. sounds
more like clover mites than spider mites. (Red spider mites are so
small as to be almost invisible, and hardly appear red to the naked
eye.)

Clover mites normally feed on lawn grasses and clover.

"Mites seen on the outside of buildings can be killed with a direct
spray of an insecticidal soap or regular liquid dish-washing soap at the
rate of 2 tablespoons per gallon of water. This treatment will not
provide
any residual control."

http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef627.asp

http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2095.html

Interesting, maybe I don't have red spider mites then. ;-)

Would the DW soap hurt flowers such as roses?

It's possible (especially on a hot day). You could always come
back around a short time later and rinse it off.

The commercial insecticidal soaps are tested to maximize insect kill
and minimize phytotoxicity.

I did hit 'em with the stuff I posted about and as soon as I
sprayed 'em they died, immediately but again, no residual
control.

Too much residual effect is what makes some pesticides a
bad environmental option...
--
Pat in Plymouth MI ('someplace.net' is comcast)

Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
(attributed to Don Marti)