CLOVER M 



rpHE 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; large 

 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. 



1 Bryobia praetiosa complex. 



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