Order: Acuri

Family: Tetranychidae

 

This nuisance pest gets its common name because the clover plant is its preferred food. Clover Mites are distributed worldwide and can be found throughout the United States.

 

Description: Adult Clover Mites are very small-only about 1/64 inch in length. Their bodies are soft, oval and flat. Their color is most often dark red, sometimes green or brown. Immature mites are bright red.

 

Biology: Adult females lay red eggs during the summer months and into early autumn. Eggs laid in fall will hatch the following spring. Ideal temperatures for development are between 65-69 degrees.

 

Habits: Clover Mites feed on plants only. They like heavily fertilized grass or lawns. Invasion into homes usually happens during the autumn months when vegetation outside begins to die off. These tiny insects can number in the hundreds of thousands. Clover Mites will leave a reddish spot when crushed and can cause staining problems on draperies, furniture, and carpets.