CLOVER MITE DETAILS

IDENTIFYING THE CLOVER MITE
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*The full-grown clover mite is slightly smaller than a pin head and has a bright reddish to reddish-brown body.

*Clover Mites appear as dark red specks crawling around sidings, doors, windows, drapes, curtains and furniture.

*When accidently crushed, clover mites will appear red and will cause a stain. This is not blood but their coloration.

*The front legs are as long as the body, and extend forward.

CLOVER MITES BIOLOGY AND HABITS
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*Clover Mites are not insects but they are a relative of spiders and ticks, an arachnid.

*Clover Mites occur in large numbers.

*Clover Mites do not damage buildings and furnishings, nor do they injure humans and pets.

*They attack a number of grasses and plants found in the yards.

*Clover Mites are plant feeders that have been found infesting more than 200 different plants, sucking the sap.

*They can leave off algae and mold.

*Clover Mites live close or on the their food sources.

*They become a real nuisance upon migration inside.

*Heavy migrations of Clover Mites into houses are also common in the early summer and fall.

*Clover Mites build up very large populations around structures surrounded with lush, well-fertilized lawns and shrubbery.

*They often move into buildings in massive numbers in the autumn when vegetation begins to die.

*In Spring, large numbers indoor migration is usually is the result of recent mulching and the beginning of higher temperatures.

*Large populations of Clover Mites may occur on the flat roofs of commercial buildings and are associated with moss growth.

*Clover Mites females lay about 70 eggs each, singly or in masses, lay eggs in cracks in concrete foundations, cracks and crevices of buildings, under sidings, and on the underside of bark at the base of the trees.

*Clover Mites eggs do not hatch below 40 or above 86.

*They lay their eggs during the spring.


*After eggs hatch, the newly emerged immature Clover Mites move to find hosts, molt, and pass through two nymphal stages.

*Approximately 30 days are required to complete a generation outdoors.

*One generation is completed during the spring or early summer months and another in the early fall (September/October).

*Clover Mites in the egg stage may either hibernate (overwinter) or become dormant during the summer under tree bark, in cracks of fence posts and foundation walls, under sheathing of buildings or in other dry protected sites, during adverse weather conditions.

*Clover Mites are most troublesome in early spring and again in fall, especially on the east and south sides of buildings.

*They can be found randomly through the house, but very frequently on the south side of the house because of the warmth.

PA. Dept of Agriculture :Clover Mites Credit to :Pa. Dept of Agriculture
James Kalisch, Department of Entomology, UNL
Barb Ogg, UNL Extension in Lancaster County

CLOVER MITES CONTROL MEASURES:
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*Clover mites mechanical treatments: The most effective prevention is removing grass and weeds for 18 to 24 inches around the foundation of the house.

*Placing a plant-free band of gravel, coarse sand, marbles, lava rock, or wood chips around the foundation will help keep them away from the structure.

*Clover mites generally have difficulty crossing such barriers.

*Avoid excessive watering or fertilizaton so that lush growth of host plants close to the house is not encouraged.

*Clover mites chemical treatments: If the mites have invaded the home causing a more serious infestation, chemical controls, such as : TALSTAR or BIFEN IT can be applied to lower foundational exterior walls up to the first floor windows, and a 10- to 20-foot-wide strip of nearby lawn where the mites are found during their invasion period. Very thorough treatment is required for consistent results. Sprays are usually applied at the rate of 15-20 gallons fo finished spray per 1,000 square feet. Clover mite populations are composed entirely of females. Red eggs are deposited in protected areas with sunny exposure. They hatch from September to April when temperatures rise above 30o F. during the day. Tiny bright red six-legged larvae crawl down into the grass and begin to feed. They soon change color to reddish-brown. After 3 to 6 days with favorable temperatures, the mites change to the next stage of development. When they are ready to molt or shed their skin, the mites travel upward to a protected location. In the second stage mites, now with eight legs, move downward and begin to feed.

*Clover mites repeat this procedure two or more times for the third and adult stages. Under ideal conditions, the life cycle can be completed in 1 month. A sudden drop in temperature may kill all mobile forms, and only eggs and resting stages survive. If winter starts with mild temperatures and becomes cold gradually with no warm periods, adult mites can hibernate and survive from September to April a situation which signals a population explosion in the spring. Cool summers favor clover mite survival; while hot, dry summers cause aestivation or a period of inactivity.

*Adult clover mites live for about 2 weeks outdoors; unless moisture is available, they seldom live longer than 24 to 48 hours in dwellings. There is an overlapping of mite stages in the spring and fall, so all stages may be present at the same time. Some host plants include lawn grasses, weeds (especially dandelions), legumes, ornamental flowers, daffodil, salvia, alyssum, primrose, bleeding heart, phlox, clover, and poppy. Plants that clover mites do not attack include geranium, chrysanthemum, and zinnia.

*Lush, newly established lawns and heavily fertilized lawns serve as ideal locations for clover mite build-up. Possibly, predator-prey imbalances account for initial, huge populations of clover mites in housing developments beginning in the 3rd year and continuing for 5 or 6 years. Natural predators include other species of mites, spiders, and an anthocorid bug.

*Clover mites are dispersed in various ways. They can crawl from yard to yard, be blown by the wind on soil particles, or be washed from one place to another by heavy rains.

*Houses with highly reflective surfaces, such as glass panes, light colored paint, or aluminum siding are preferred for invasion.

*In many instances, only the sunny exposure of a dwelling become severely infested. When mites reach a warm surface, they roam about until they find a protected area, such as: crevices in the bark of a tree, wall voids, under siding and shingles, and cracks and crevices in brick veneer. If surfaces become too hot or too cold, mites search for a more favorable location.

George C. Hamilton, Ph.D., Specialist in Pest Management & Louis M. Vasvary, Ph.D., Specialist in Entomology, (deceased)

*Control Control treatment sites include lawn areas and foundation walls. Lawn areas adjacent to foundations should receive an insecticide application. The base of the outside foundation and outward to a distance of 10 to 20 feet should be treated. However, the distance form the base of the foundation depends upon the degree of infestation. The insecticide should also be applied form the base of the outside foundation up to windowsills on the first floor. Some pressure is required to force insecticide into crevices under shingles, siding, pits in mortar and around window frames, and where pipes or other utilities enter the dwelling. Where large populations of clove mites have been a constant annoyance, Drione can be placed into wall void areas by drilling tiny holes into stud voids and introducing micronized dust. In general, residual insecticides are most useful for clover mite control because overlapping stages exist during periods of activity. Resting stages and the egg stage are relatively tolerant to most insecticides.