354 



HOUSEHOLD INSECTS 



three-tenths of an inch long, and has a very long pair of 

 front legs, as shown in the illustration. Its mouth parts 

 are formed for sucking and the body is oval and apparently 

 all of one piece. 



Its life history and habits. — In the higher altitudes 

 and in its more northern range, this mite passes the winter 

 largely in the egg state. The eggs may be found on the 

 bark of shade trees, in the crotches and on the branches 



of fruit trees, often in great 

 numbers. We often receive 

 branches of pear trees thickly 

 coated with the eggs of this 

 pest. 



In the warmer regions of 

 its range it is said to pass the 

 winter more often, at least 

 in the adult state, seeking 

 hibernation quarters where- 

 ever they may be found. 



It is owing to its habit of 

 seeking some place for shelter 

 that it enters dwelling-houses 

 in the fall of the year, sometimes in great numbers and 

 thus becomes a veritable pest. This is especially apt to 

 occur in the states of the Mississippi Valley and there are 

 records of its happening in other states. It occasionally 

 occurs as a pest (Fig. 123) to clover and certain grasses 

 near a dwelling-house, even on the lawn ; and, in this 

 case, it will be very apt to enter the house in the autumn 

 after it quits feeding and begins to seek winter quarters. 

 Methods of control. — Screens at windows are not much 

 protection, because the mites can readily crawl through 



Fig. 



123. — A young clover mite, 

 enlarged. 



