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It’s been a cold, cold winter…but before we all know it, spring will have sprung!  Beautiful new greenery, picnic weather, lazy evenings out on the deck…I for one can’t wait!  Of course, with the change of seasons we have to be on the lookout for some seasonal pest issues.  Spring can bring clover mites in large numbers – so here’s a short primer on these tiny arachnids.

Clover mites are tiny (about 1/30 inch long), oval in shape, and reddish-brown to orange.  They are not dangerous, but can sometimes invade homes in surprising numbers.  If squashed they can stain surfaces red, which leads some to believe they are blood-feeders.  Not so!  They feed on vegetation in the yard, including clovers and grasses.  Generally appearing as tiny reddish or orange spots to the naked eye, their small size allows them to gain entry through tiny cracks around doors and windows.  Occasionally they may climb higher and enter homes through the upper levels.

Mite….no, wait….M422 Mighty Mite!  Oo-rah! (J.L. Martinez, USMC)

This is more like it….proud mama clover mite with eggs (thanks to UNL)

As with many occasional pests, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.  Clover mites are usually a problem on the south-facing sides of homes, especially where vegetation touches the foundation wall.  Well-fertilized lawns can breed incredibly large numbers of clover mites, which may migrate to the warm building surface in the spring and find their way indoors.  A popular recommendation is to maintain a grass-free strip of 2-3 feet around the home, especially in areas that receive a lot of sunlight (south, southwest, and east sides of the home).  Alternatively, one might wish to plant ornamentals that are not known to be attractive to the mites – these include arborvitae, juniper, spruce, chrysanthemum, rose, salvia, petunia, geranium, and zinnia.  Finally, tight-fitting screens, good weatherstripping, and a little caulk can go a long way toward preventing indoor problems with clover mites – as well as many other pests!

Some products can provide relief by killing clover mites outdoors, before they enter homes – however, timing applications involves guesswork and many products labeled for clover mite control are relatively short-lived.  If clover mites are present on the side of the home, they can be easily washed off with a garden hose.  Once the mites are indoors, chemical control is not recommended.  The mites can simply be vacuumed up, taking care not to stain surfaces by squishing them.  Mites can escape from the vacuum bag, so it should be disposed of away from the house.

So…as you’re enjoying more time outdoors with the onset of spring, keep an eye out for clover mites, and don’t be alarmed – they are completely harmless.  Next time we’ll look at another springtime critter, the carpenter bee.  Thanks for reading!