Clover Mites – Tiny red bugs crawling on your windowsills
Have you noticed tiny red bugs crawling on your windowsills or on the sunny side of your house? You may have an infestation of clover mites. Pest control is the most reliable way to rid your residence of these insects. Read on to learn how to identify them and when to bring Cavanaugh’s Termite and Pest Services to your house.
What Do Clover Mites Look Like?
People sometimes mistake clover mites for insects, but they rightfully qualify as mites because they have eight legs, not six. However, their front two legs are twice as long as their other six, making them look suspiciously like antennae.
Clover mites are also quite tiny, rarely growing larger than the head of a pin. These dark red mites reproduce in large numbers and can be difficult to eradicate after an infestation.
Why Are Clover Mites Pests?
You don’t have to worry about clover mites biting or stinging. They feed on plants, not blood, so they won’t endanger the health of you, your family members, or your pets. They also won’t damage your possessions such as fabric, clothing, furniture, or food—unless you crush them and smear the body pigments across a surface, creating a stain.
Despite their non-threatening presence, clover mites qualify as pests because of their large populations. A female can lay up to 70 eggs, and she doesn’t need to be fertilized to lay her eggs. The mite inside each egg can become a mature adult in about a month if conditions are warm enough. These characteristics lead clover mite populations to multiply quickly.
Where Do Clover Mites Live and Feed?
Ideally, clover mites live outdoors in grassy areas that offer them plenty of food. They can flourish in well-fertilized grass near building foundations.
However, clover mites don’t always stay outside. Females often move to dry locations before laying their eggs or when weather becomes very hot or cold. They head into cracks in building walls, gaps around windows, and spaces underneath siding or shingles. Once inside, clover mites can sometimes find food sources such as mildew and mold, particularly in multi-story office buildings or apartments.
How Can You Eliminate Clover Mite Infestations?
If clover mites have entered your house, you’ll probably notice quite a few of the pests at once. Most likely, a fresh set of eggs has recently hatched. You need to act quickly before the newly mature mites lay new eggs and their population becomes even larger.
When you spot a clover mite infestation at your house in Flanders NJ, Somerville, NJ or Freehold, NJ, contact Cavanaugh’s. Our experts will treat your house to get rid of the existing pests and recommend preventative measures that will keep clover mites away in the future.