Little Red Bugs Invading DC-Area Homes in the Spring
07/03/2019
No one likes having their home invaded by pests, especially pests that can damage belongings. As we head further into summer in the DC-area, little...
READ MORE >
Finding hundreds of tiny red bugs in your home can be a little unnerving, no matter what time of the year you find them. And, if you know that clover mites are closely related to spiders, scorpions, and ticks, that may be cause for you to worry even more. But you don't have to worry. Those clover mites won't hurt you. They don't bite people and they don't spread diseases like ticks. They can, however, cause other issues. Let's take a look at these tiny pests and see what we can learn.
What Are Clover Mites?
These are tiny household-invading pests that have long front legs. To the naked eye, they are nothing more than a little red speck, no larger than a pinhead. Usually, they stay outside feeding on clover, grassy lawns, weeds, and other plants. But sometimes they come into homes by the thousands, especially in spring and fall months.
Why Clover Mites Do Not Belong Indoors
While clover mites may not sting or bite or transmit diseases, they are still not good to have inside homes. The red pigmentation in their bodies can stain surfaces that they are resting on when they are squished or wiped away. This can be a problem, especially if they have invaded in large numbers and if your home has light-colored curtains, carpets, walls, furniture, and other belongings.
How Do Clover Mites Get Into Homes?
When temperatures begin to drop in the autumn months, many insects will begin to congregate on the sunny sides of buildings, seeking warmth. They can sometimes be seen by the thousands on siding, brick walls, porch areas, and anywhere else that is sunny and sheltered from the cold. And clover mites are so tiny that, when they do this, it isn't hard for them to find tiny gaps and cracks in which to crawl through and gain access to the inside of a home. They may crawl in through a gap in the foundation. They may squeeze in through a space underneath a screen that is not securely in place. Or they may crawl in through a gap around a pipe or some wiring that is passing through a wall. There are many ways a tiny creature like a clover mite can find its way into a home.
Clover mites are also attracted to heavily fertilized lawns. They feed on plants, grass, weeds, and clover. If you have a large number of them in your yard or on your home, this may be the reason why.
DIY Steps To Prevent Clover Mites From Entering Homes
While it may be difficult to eliminate an infestation of clover mites once they come inside in large numbers, there are some steps homeowners can take to try to keep these little red curtain stainers from getting inside in the first place. But keep in mind that clover mites are so tiny, it is difficult to seal your home enough to keep them out completely.
- Carefully examine the perimeter of your home, looking all around the foundation and outer walls. If you find any gaps, holes or cracks, seal them up using a caulking gun or other repair material, or hire a professional to fix these areas. Not only will this help to keep clover mites from entering, it will also help keep a host of other pests from finding their way in as well.
- Clover mites love gardens/grass that is rich and abundant. Keeping your perimeter as free of grass and weeds and other growth as possible will help in keeping clover mites away.
- Address any areas of wood rot, especially the sills of your home just above the foundation wall.
- Make sure all of your doors have weather stripping that makes good contact all the way around.
- Call in the professionals. Professional pest control companies can be a huge help, not only in keeping clover mites out of homes but in keeping a host of other insect and animal pests away from and out of your home.
When To Call In Professional Pest Control
If you are seeing a large infestation of clover mites or you would like to be proactive in keeping them out, the best solution is to call upon a professional pest control company. Over-the-counter insecticides are often not catered to a specific pest. This decreases their chances of being effective. At American Pest, we have specific, EPA approved products designed to eradicate clover mite issues as quickly and efficiently as possible. For clover mites, or any other pest problem, reach out to American Pest today.
