Clover Mites
Each spring in the DC/Maryland area clover mites appear on the exterior of structures. It is likely that these tiny red mites have over wintered in cracks and crevices of the building. They are usually most numerous on south to west faces of a structure and rarely numerous on the north side. Typically, the mites come from the ground and crawl up the side of an office building or residence, but if there are planters or moss on the roof, balcony or deck, large numbers of mites are possible in the upper levels.
Operating windows (windows that open) are rarely effective at keeping clover mites out even when they are closed. These tiny mites can usually find an opening around the edges where the window opens and gain access to the interior.
If your building has fixed, non-operating windows and clover mites are getting inside there is likely an installation flaw. Sealed systems are designed to exclude things even as small as clover mites. The caulking or sealing system around the windows is defective if clover mites are getting in. If the mites appear in areas near doors or other wall penetrations, they probably entered through small openings even if the door or penetration appears closed or sealed.
Other Key Clover Mite Points:
1. Clover mites do not bite humans. They are plant feeders, usually feeding on grass, and will not reproduce indoors.
2. Pesticide treatment is of little value indoors. The mites can be removed by vacuum and they will die in the bag or sticky traps or water traps can be placed on windowsills to capture the mites. Left alone, most mites will die within 48 hours indoors unless they find a very moist environment.
3. Avoid the urge to squash a clover mite. Their body fluids can stain the surface they are on when squashed.
4. Pesticide treatments on the exterior are generally effective in quickly reducing the numbers of mites, but total elimination with one treatment should not be expected.
Long Term Solutions
Although caulking or sealing obvious cracks or holes in a structure will help reduce clover mites, it will not usually stop them totally from entering a structure with operating windows. If you have fixed windows and the mites are getting in, the window system should be evaluated to determine how the mites are getting in and if a cost effective repair is possible. In either case, clover mites are usually greatly reduced if an 18 to 24 inch gravel barrier is installed around the perimeter of the building.
TAGS: clover mites, American Pest Management
9 responses so far ↓
1 Glen // Jun 6, 2008 at 1:24 pm
I live in NY and I found the inside of my car infested with these tiny(pinhead size) red bugs. Everytime I smash one it leaves a red stain on my leather seats. Anyone know what they might be??
2 admin // Jun 9, 2008 at 8:55 am
These are clover mites and they will be gone within 30 days.
3 rossy // Apr 15, 2009 at 8:52 am
those little red bugs are on my windows and i have toddlers are the bugs harmfull?
4 Melissa // Apr 20, 2009 at 12:47 pm
I have found other webites saying they are not harmful and they do not bite. I have lots of windows around my house, and only 2 windows are infested with them. I guess I will keep washing the windows and mopping the floor to get rid of them. I noticed a tiny house spider in the corner with some dead bugs under it. I love Spring, but I don’t like the little and some times big pests that comes with it!!!
5 sara // May 20, 2009 at 8:22 pm
I hate bugs!! When i discovered them i freaked out, there was so many of them! I got some 409 spray and sprayed my front porch and door and it seems to work!
6 Thurcia // May 23, 2009 at 10:42 pm
I noticed what seemed like thousands of these teeny tiny pin sized bugs after a cookout the night before. They are on my deck that was built in Dec of 2008 and on the second floor! I have seen them on my carpet and one was on the shower curtain last night. Although, everyone seems to say they’re harmless, bright red critters crawling around my home freaks me out! Could you let me know what you use for indoor infestaions? Everyone walks bare foot on my deck, so I want to make sure I’m covered when trying to relax inside. Thanks for your help!
7 yo // May 29, 2009 at 2:03 pm
these are infested in the gravel landscoping in col. oh the other night they were all over the car tires and today none on tires but they love the gravel landscape
8 sheri // Jul 9, 2009 at 7:29 am
can anyone please tell me how to get rid of them I did the spare and I even bleach everything and they are still there. Thay said that thay live outside and do not hatch inside why am i seeing little one thay are in my bed and My boyfriend and I are going crazy. What can we do please help he is going to get some bugs spare and try that will that help? Thank you someone please help we can’t sleep that will at night with them things on are bed. Thay crawl on us also it is nasty and I can’t do it anymore.
9 The Bubblehead's Home - Page 610 - 420 Magazine // Jun 12, 2010 at 2:01 pm
[…] Let Me Google That For You (TM). Tiny Red Bugs! They’re clover mites. Pesticides are usually unnecessary, a vacuum or stick trap is much more […]
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