How to Get Rid of Clover Mites

Mites in any amount are frustrating and obnoxious to deal with, so when they become a problem, people start to wonder just how to get rid of clover mites. While clover mites aren’t considered harmful to humans, an infestation is never something you want to mess with. And clover mites can often be an indicator of a bigger problem that will need to be addressed. Here’s what you need to know about these tiny, red mites.

But before we get into that, if you need help getting rid of clover mites in your home, we can help. Click here to see how much it will cost you or the button below.

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What Are Clover Mites?

Clover mites are tiny, red bugs that aren’t even a millimeter long. They are oval-shaped with eight long legs. Being so small, they are difficult to see until they congregate in large numbers, which unfortunately they often do. Given their size, they can find their way into your home through even the tiniest of cracks.

Once they make their way in, they can be hard to control. The thing that sets them apart from their arachnid ancestors, such as spiders and ticks, is their diet. They don’t feed on blood from other insects, humans, or animals. This is surprising given their red coloring. They feed on clover, grass, and other plants as their name suggests.

Do Clover Mites Bite?

Clover mites don’t bite or cause any form of health concerns when it comes to humans. But just because they don’t bite, doesn’t mean you want them gathering by the thousands in your home.

When is the Clover Mite Season?

Different from most bugs, clover mites are most active when the weather turns cooler, beginning in the spring. They come out in droves, feasting on your grass and flowers. While they prefer the outdoors, clover mites have a tendency to accidentally make their way inside.

Once inside, clover mites tend to multiply at an incredible rate. Females can lay up to 70 eggs, with each becoming a mature adult, in 30 days. And interestingly enough, their eggs don’t need to be fertilized by a male for reproduction. But, the good news is that while indoors, the clover mite hatchlings won’t survive long due to dehydration.

Clover Mites vs. Chiggers

Chiggers, also referred to as berry bugs, harvest mites, or red bugs, are tiny, red mites. They are often found in berry patches or grassy areas. Most are so small that they can only be seen with a magnifying glass. They certainly sound a lot like clover mites. However, baby chiggers leave a bite that can cause pretty intense itching.

After hatching, baby chiggers wait on shrubs and other vegetation for people or pets to walk by. The chigger then catches a ride on them using their claws. Once attached, it pierces their skin and spits saliva in the injection site. Their spit dissolves skin cells which the chigger then consumes and provides the protein it needs. After a day or two, the chigger falls off, leaving behind a red bite mark.

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Clover Mites vs. Bed bugs

When clover mites are found in your bed, it can most certainly be alarming. But you can rest assured, clover mites aren’t nearly as obnoxious or vicious as bed bugs. Bed bugs live off of your blood and are extremely difficult to get rid of. Clover mites have no interest in biting you or your pets. They would prefer to be munching on grass in your yard than lingering in your bed.

One sign that you have bed bugs is finding small, red spots of blood on your sheets or pajamas. Be careful not to jump to the conclusion that you must certainly have bed bugs. When smashed, clover mites leave a bright red stain on your belongings that may appear to be human blood if you don’t know what you’re looking at.

Where do Clover Mites Come from?

Clover mites are most commonly found throughout Asia, Australia, Europe, and North and South America. Because they are drawn to well-fertilized lawns, they do well in humid climates with lush vegetation. Even though they abundantly show up in the springtime, the humid, hot climates of South Carolina and Texas are prime for clover mites.

Given their very small size, clover mites get into your home through cracks around your windows and doors. They can work their way into cracks that aren’t even visible to the human eye.

Are Clover Mites Harmful?

We’ve already established that clover mites don’t pose any threat to humans like so many other invasive insects. They won’t bite us and aren’t known for spreading disease. However, they are known to damage or destroy your belongings when smashed.

They can be squashed rather easily, leaving behind bright red marks. You may notice these stains on your curtains, rugs, furniture, walls, carpets, and clothing. Nearly impossible to remove, these marks can be extremely frustrating. Even their eggs are bright red!