Problem Identifier Unit Screen//v.w/ RR Template Clover mites


Problem
Reddish brown mites smaller than a pinhead, with long front legs, are present in the home in the fall. They may be found on walls, window sills, floors, and furniture, and even in bedding and clothes. When crushed, these mites leave a blood-red stain. They are often so numerous that they give infested surfaces a reddish appearance.

Analysis
(Bryobia praetiosa)
  These pests, related to spiders, are found throughout the United States. Clover mites feed and reproduce on clover, grasses, and other plants. They are most active in the spring and fall, and on warm winter days. The mites lay eggs during the summer and fall. The young, which hatch from these eggs, feed on vegetation, and then migrate into homes and other protected areas during the early fall. Mites enter homes through cracks or openings in the foundation and around doors and windows. Mite activity usually decreases when temperatures rise above 85°F or fall below 40°F.

Solution
Remove mites from household furnishings by vacuuming them from infested surfaces. Do not crush the mites because they will leave a red stain. Kill mites indoors by spraying them directly with ORTHO Home Pest Insect Control. Treat outdoor areas with ORTHO Home Pest Insect Control, ORTHO Ant-Stop Ant Killer Dust, or ORTHO Malathion 50 PLUS Insect Spray as a barrier treatment. Keep a strip of soil 18 to 24 inches wide around the foundation of the building free of vegetation and debris to reduce mite movement into homes.