Clover Mites in Northeast Ohio
Clover Mites in Northeast Ohio
As the seasons change, we sometimes encounter some unwelcome guests called clover mites. These aren't your typical crawling insects; they're incredibly small, reddish-brown arachnids that can appear in big numbers. Let’s talk about what clover mites are, why they show up, and how you can help you keep them out of your home.
Clover mites don't bite humans or pets, and they don't cause structural damage to your home.
What Exactly Are Clover Mites?
Clover mites (Bryobiapraetiosa) are part of the mite family, closely related to ticks and spiders. They are tiny, usually less than 1/32 of an inch long, and their most distinctive feature is their reddish-brown to green color. What often catches people's attention is the sheer volume of them when they infest an area. While they might look like tiny specks of red dust, they can move surprisingly quickly.
Why Are They Showing Up Now?
Clover mites don't bite humans or pets, and they don't cause structural damage to your home. Their primary food source is plants – particularly clovers, grasses, and other lush vegetation. So, why do they end up in your house?
The answer often lies in environmental changes:
- • Changes in outdoor vegetation: If you've recently had a lot of new growth around your foundation, or if a previously lush area is starting to dry out, clover mites might start looking for new food sources or shelter.
- • Weather extremes:When outdoor conditions become too hot and dry, or too cold and wet, clover mites seek more favorable environments, and unfortunately, your home can look like a safe haven. They often find their way indoors through cracks, crevices, and even around windows and doors.
- • Sun-warmed walls They are often attracted to the sunny, south-west facing walls of homes, where they can accumulate before finding entry points.
Don't Squish 'Em!
One important thing to know about clover mites is that they leave a reddish stain if crushed. This isn't blood (they don't feed on blood), but rather their body fluids. This stain can be difficult to remove from carpets, upholstery, and walls, so it's best to avoid squishing them.
How Can We Help? Your Clover Mite Solution
Dealing with a clover mite infestation can be frustrating, especially given their small size and the sheer numbers they can appear in. Prevention Pest Control can help with treatment and there are some things that you the homeowner can do as well.
The first thing that should be done is an inspection of the exterior of the home. Look for big numbers of clover mites entering the home and pinpoint their outdoor breeding grounds. Homeowners can do some maintenance on the vegetation on the exterior of the home such as cutting back grass and bushes, making sure no old leaves or debris in up against the home or by putting a strip of gravel around the foundation. If that does not solve the issue then Prevention Pest Control can treat the foundation, window frames and door thresholds to help keep them out of the home. An interior application can be done as well to homes that have significant numbers inside to help reduce their population.
This is one of those pests where some modifications to the exterior of your home may solve it and help prevent it from happening again. If that does not work, then give Prevention Pest Control a call at 234-571-1203 and we would be glad to help. And remember, an ounce of Prevention is all it takes for a pest free home! Dave.