What Are Those Tiny Red Bugs?

A clover mite in St. Louis MO - Blue Chip Pest Services

Have you been noticing small red bugs crawling around your home or business in St. Louis MO recently? They’re probably clover mites! We’re experiencing a higher number of these tiny pests this year, which has led to lots of calls and questions about dealing with them. Are you wondering what they are or how to get rid of them? Read on to learn all about clover mites from our technicians at Blue Chip Pest Services!

What Are Clover Mites?

Clover mites are a part of the arachnid family, meaning that they are related to spiders, scorpions, and other eight-legged invertebrates. They are some of the smallest arachnids at only 1/30th of an inch long. A closer look will reveal a rounded body, two antennae, and a vibrant red to brownish-red color.

You’ll often find clover mites in your garden, near your houseplants, or around your fresh produce. This is because clover mites feed on vegetation, the same reason that they’re so active in the spring and summer. Shrubs and bushes provide an easy site for a clover mite problem to develop because overgrowth can allow them to reproduce and thrive undetected.

How to Get Rid of Clover Mites

Fortunately, clover mites do not bite, sting, or pass on diseases to humans. The biggest nuisance that they cause is leaving staining on walls, furniture, and curtains. That said, though, it’s never fun to have unwanted bugs crawling around in your home or taking over your garden. Here are some ways you can get rid of clover mites:

  • Get rid of the plants they’re infesting. You may not want to do this out of appreciation for the chosen plant, but if your clover mites are confined to a small region of your yard or home, a sole plant could be the problem.
  • Use a vacuum cleaner. This won’t address the source of your problem, but using a vacuum cleaner is a sure way to get rid of any clover mites on sight.
  • Use sticky traps. Sticky traps can help to catch clover mites that you might have missed with your vacuum. If you place these traps around the places that you think they’re getting in, it could curb the flow of pests into your home.
  • Call an exterminator. If you can’t figure out how to get rid of your clover mites, an exterminator will be able to tell you where your problem started and help you put it to a stop.

Pest Control for Clover Mites in St. Louis MO

If you need help getting rid of your clover mites, reach out to our technicians at Blue Chip Pest Services. We can send out an exterminator to conduct a property inspection aimed at finding all vulnerabilities and setting up a removal plan. With an emphasis on teaching our customers how to prevent future problems on their own, our service is geared at keeping homes and business clover mite-free for good. Reach out today for a free quote!

Meet the Clover Mite

Clover mite in St. Louis MO - Blue Chip Pest Services

Despite their name, there is nothing lucky about clover mites. At only 80 mm in size, these reddish-brown pests are minuscule, even smaller than the size of a pinhead. They differ from most other pests because they actually prefer cooler weather. Their presence typically increases in the springtime when they have the opportunity to not only enjoy some cooler temperatures but also take advantage of snacking on clovers. However, these mites don’t simply stick to a diet of clovers. These pests target healthy lawns that get plenty of water & fertilizer as well as over 200 different types of plants, including many spring flowers that bloom this time of year. For this reason, it’s crucial to learn what you can do to prevent clover mites from feeding on your lawn. Keep reading for clover mite prevention tips in St. Louis MO with the experts at Blue Chip Pest Services.

WHAT ARE CLOVER MITES?

As mentioned before, clover mites are minuscule pests that can be a major nuisance for homes and businesses alike. Once the hotter weather starts arriving on the daily (around May), clover mites lay their eggs then basically become dormant until September arrives and the temperatures start to cool off. Then, they may be spotted off and on for a couple of months before laying more eggs in the cracks and crevices of a home’s exterior or even between walls. These eggs will hatch around May. Clover mite populations can get to very large numbers, which is why they are such a pain to deal with. The good news is that clover mites cannot bite and are of no harm to people or pets. The bad news is that clover mites can turn your healthy lawn into a mess, and quickly.

HOW TO PREVENT CLOVER MITES

In order to avoid a clover mite infestation this spring and summer, it’s important to learn how to keep these pests away in the first place. By making some slight modifications to the exterior of your home, you can successfully lessen the risk of clover mites. Our top tips to prevent and control clover mites are as follows.

  1. Create a rock or mulch barrier between the foundation and the grass.
  2. Try not to water or over-fertilize plants around your home.
  3. Look for possible cracks around window frames and siding as these serve as entry points for clover mites. If any are found, take time to seal them to prevent clover mites from laying eggs there or using this to enter your home.
  4. While your gut instinct might be to smash or crush any clover mites found inside, keep in mind that they leave behind a red stain when crushed, especially on curtains, wallpaper, light-colored furniture, and rugs. A better method of removing clover mites from your home is to vacuum them up.

NEED HELP WITH CLOVER MITES IN MISSOURI?

These pests may be tiny, but they can cause huge problems when they start to feed on your healthy lawn. That’s where Blue Chip Pest Services can help. Our regular service programs will help maintain a barrier year-round to help keep these unwanted pests out. Contact our lawn care experts today to get started!