Have you recently noticed an influx of tiny red bugs around your home and been wondering what they are. Well, wonder no more! These little guys are called clover mites, and they’re actually more harmless than you may think.
During the cooler months, these nuisance pests make their way into your home to get out of the cold. You’ll usually find them on window sills and in cracks and crevices.
Clover mites do not bite or sting humans nor do they cause damage to your home. However, these common household pests can be quite a nuisance as they can leave tell-tale red stains when squished.
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What are clover mites
Clover mites are arachnids, related to spiders and ticks. Adult clover mites are only about 1/30 of an inch long (roughly the same size as a pinhead!), which makes them very difficult to spot. They have a reddish brown colour. Young clover mites are bright red body colour.
These pests get their name from their preferred food source: clover. However, they will also feed on other lawn grasses.
Are clover mites harmful
When I was a kid, we used to call these tiny red bugs blood suckers! We thought that they got their bright red colour from sucking the blood of humans. Wrong! Clover mites are harmless to humans. In fact, they don’t even bite.
They can, however, be quite an annoyance as their numbers can quickly explode. A single female clover mite can lay up to 70 eggs at a time. And clover mite eggs (which don’t need fertilization by males by the way) hatch in as little as 30 days!
They can also reek havoc on your garden. As I mentioned, their preferred food is clover. But they will also munch on other plants such as grasses, ivy and even flowers. So, if you have a lot of these pests in your garden, you may see some damage to your plants.
How do clover mites get into your house
When these tiny red bugs are done with the plants in your garden, they set their eyes (and bellies) on your houseplants. Clover mites can squeeze through the tiniest of wall voids and openings around windows to get into your home. Once they’re inside, they’ll often be found around window sills.
Of course, some can get lost from the group and end up anywhere else in the couch. If you find them on the couch, carpet, bed or curtains, don’t squash them. For one, they’re harmless! And if you do squash them, they’ll leave a red stain behind.
Clover mites are most active in spring. So that’s when you need to be most vigilant in keeping them out.
How to prevent Clover Mites in your house
The best way to prevent these little red bugs from taking over your home is to seal any cracks and crevices on the exterior of your house. This includes gaps around doors, cracks around windows, vents and pipes.
Check window screens for holes and repair or replace them if necessary. Keep in mind that clover mites are very tiny. So, it’s important to be thorough in your inspection.
You can also keep them out by regularly trimming trees, bushes and other vegetation away from the exterior of your home. This will remove their food source and make it less likely for them to hang around.
Natural sprays can also be sprayed on outside brick walls, foundations, and around doors and windows to deter them from entering your house.
While one or two mites roaming about your house isn’t anything to worry about, if you find you’ve got an infestation of clover mites, you’ll want to enlist the help of pest control professionals.
FAQs about Clover Mites
Here are the answers to some of the frequently asked questions about clover mites.
Why are they called clover mites?
They are called clover mites because their preferred food source is clover.
Do clover mites bite or carry disease?
No, clover mites do not bite or carry disease.
Can clover mites damage my house?
While they don’t necessarily damage your house, clover mites can be an annoyance in your house if they infest it in large numbers. They can also leave red stains when squished.
Are clover mites the same as red spider mites?
Clover mites are not the same as red spider mites. Red spider mites are much smaller and can bite humans. They also damage plants by sucking the sap out of them.
Are clover mites the same as chiggers?
Clover mites are not the same as chiggers. Chiggers are much smaller and bite humans. They also carry disease. Chigger bites can be very painful and itch for days.
How long do clover mite infestations last?
Clover mite infestations can last for several weeks. However, they are most active in springtime.
