I think they're spider mites in starts room. How to get rid of them, permanent-agriculturally?

They're on mostly my basil starts, so it looks. They're brown. Then when try to pick them off, they squirm incessantly, of course. Just wondering if I've identified them right. I bet they're not even a millimetre in girth. I suspect I have this problem from leaving them dry for too long, watering too infrequently? Much Thanks,  Nick

A spray of soapy water usually works for me. You might need to do it more than once if they're really thick.

Hi, Thanks for replying.  Now do you think Dr. Bronner's soap is as effective as what I've heard used in gardening called Safer's Soap?  I've never even seen it written down, but that may be it.  May your Spring be springy,   Nick

I've had good luck with Safer's as well as similar brands marketed for this purpose. I've also used lots of different dishwash liquids and organic laundry concentrates. I haven't tried Dr Bronner's but I bet it would be good. The main thing is that you're putting a dilute surfactant on them that gets them wet and suffocates the little buggers. Plain water doesn't work as well because their webbing repels it and keeps them dry.

(PS: it's late autumn here but I love this time of year!)