Spider Mites! and other tormentors

So I've been seeing these teeny tiny bugs in my MM, and after googling a bit, have decided they are spider mites. I've seen tan, white, orange and red ones. But they all look the same and move rather quickly. Can anyone confirm this for me? And tell me how to annihilate them? I've got some insecticidal soap already. Would that work?



I know it's blurry, but with my non-professional camera on this tiny guy, it's the best I could do.

I also found this guy and a friend of his. Is this a baby japanese beetle?



What can I do to keep him from making himself comfortable and picking out curtains?

I ALSO have seen a lot of little black ants in the dirt and on some zucchini leaves. Concern? I know that we had a hill in our bed before we placed the box, but we put some kind of killer down for them, and I thought that'd take care of them. Is it possible that they lived on and dug up through the weed barrier? Or around I guess - the barrier isn't completely sealed at the edges.

Thanks friends!
Tracy

PS I'm open to organic and, um, otherwise. Don't hate.