Before I answer that question in the title, what are clover mites anyway?

Clover mites are arachnids and thus more closely related to spiders than to insects. These tiny reddish brown mites (Bryobia praetiosa) are a turf feeding species and are another occasional house invading pest that unfortunately can build up in very large numbers. Most of the calls I’ve treated in the past regarding this pest have been during the springtime. It is startling sometimes to see the huge numbers of these mites crawling all over the foundation, siding, and windows on a home’s exterior.

Because of their small size, they can easily enter inside through gaps around windows and doors. Once inside, they’re usually found crawling around on walls, trim, windows, and draperies. They do no damage to homes other than possibly the staining of fabrics or walls if they are crushed, so it is best to remove the ones that have gotten inside with a good strong vacuum.

If you’ve had or are having problems with clover mites, Colonial Pest Control’s proven semi-annual service will help to keep these nuisance pests under control. Contact our office for more details. Oh, I almost forgot, clover mites do not bite!

By Tieu (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

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