CLOVER 



rj<HE clover mite, 1 an 8-legged, reddish or brownish creature 

 smaller than a pinhead, is frequently a household pest. 

 When clover mites invade homes, they overrun floors, walls, fur- 

 niture, and windowpanes and get into beds and clothing. They 

 do not bite people, transmit diseases, or feed on household fur- 

 nishings or pantry supplies, but they are a nuisance. If they are 

 crushed, they leave blood-red spots that are especially noticeable 

 on linens, curtains, walls, and woodwork. It is difficult to remove 

 these pests from homes without creating these stains. 



The mites are annoying in the Northern United States and 

 Canada. They seldom are a problem in the extreme Southern 

 States. 



HABITS 



Clover mites breed and feed in grasses, clovers, and other plants 

 around buildings and on lawns. The heaviest infestation occurs 

 at the sites of new homes; apparently new lawns and heavily 

 fertilized old lawns are favorable for them. 



While these mites are most annoying in the fall and early spring, 

 they may be a nuisance to homemakers during any warm period 

 in the winter. They may also invade homes in large numbers 

 during the summer if their food plants have been cut or have 

 dried up. 



Late in the fall thousands of them may gather on vegetation 

 around homes and on foundation walls and other outside surfaces. 

 When cold weather arrives, they leave these exposed places for 

 protected hiding places, and some enter houses. While in hiding, 

 they are inactive. In the spring they become active again: larg'e 

 numbers crawl from their hiding places in search of food. 



DEVELOPMENT 



Reddish eggs are laid singly or in masses on 

 host plants during late summer or early fall. 



The mites then develop through four stages 



larva, two nymphal stages, and adult. Each 

 of these stages lasts 2 to 6 days. There may 

 be two or more generations a year. The mite 

 may pass the winter in any stage. 



Several kinds of mites are called clover mites 

 and they differ somewhat in their habits. Con- 

 trol methods described in this leaflet may vary- 

 in effectiveness against the different kinds of 

 mites, and in different localities. If you have 

 difficulty keeping clover mites out of the house, 

 remove all grass and weeds on a strip 18 inches 

 to 2 feet around the foundation, and plant 

 unfavorable host plants such as marigolds and 

 zinnias. Treat this strip with one of the rec- 

 ommended insecticides if necessary. 



1 Bryobia praetiosa complex. 



J/ow to confoot tkejtt em 



