Clover Mites!

photo courtesy of wikipedia.org

Clover Mites are itty bitty (smaller than a pinhead), oval-shaped arachnids.  Their front pair of legs are very long and protrude forward at the head, making them easily mistaken as antennae or feelers.  They are a reddish brown color which leaves a rusty, reddish stain if crushed.  This can be very noticeable on linens, curtains, walls, and woodwork.

As their name suggest, these mites feed on plants such as clover as well as dandelion, shepherd's purse, strawberry, iris, and grasses.  However, they sometimes invade homes in early spring and late fall, often in very high numbers.  This can make them quite a nuisance.  This will mostly occur where the sun is warmest at the south, southwest, and east side of the house.  To help prevent them from getting inside your home, an 18-24 inch grass-free band around the house helps deter them.  Heavy outbreaks mostly occur in well fertilized lawns growing close to the house foundation.

An interesting fact about clover mites is that there are no males.  They develop from unfertilized eggs.  Each of these female mites will lay around 70 bright red eggs, singly or in masses, in cracks and faults in concrete foundations, in mortar crevices, between the building walls, under loose bark of trees, and other protected areas.

Clover mites do not bite humans or animals, transmit disease, nor feed on household furnishings.  However, their large numbers and their red stains make them unwanted guests!

Clover mite with egg; photo courtesy of ext.colostate.edu