Photo By Rayanne Lehman, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bugwood.org , used under CC-BY-3.0 /Cropped and compressed from original
Clover mite
Bryobia praetiosa
A species of Bryobia, Also known as Brown clover mite, Almond mite
Clover mite is a plant-feeding mite that's often found in homes during spring or during significant weather changes. Fortunately, it doesn't breed indoors and it's not considered harmful. When crushed, it leaves a reddish spot. It is very similar to the Balaustium mites, the predatory species that can be distinguished from the Clover mite under a 20x lens.
General Info About Clover mite
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Attributes of Clover mite
Habitat
lawn; indoors
Adult Food Sources
Plant sap, leaf tissue, fruit tissue, greenhouse crops, field crops
The Clover mite is non-toxic and generally doesn't pose a risk to human health. No need for excessive worry.
Borer
Not reported
Pollinator
Not reported
Pest-Eating Predatory
Not reported
Phytophagous
The Clover mite feeds on plants, usually without causing significant harm. However, it's important to take the situation seriously if their numbers begin to increase significantly.
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Species Status of Clover mite
Extremely common
Distribution Area of Clover mite
North America
Predators of Adult Clover mite
Lady beetles, predatory mites, lacewings, big-eyed bugs, spiders, parasitic wasps, birds, ants
Interesting Facts About Clover mite
Clover mite can survive in extremely dry environments, thanks to a specialized exoskeleton that helps retain moisture.
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Youth Habitat of Clover mite
Forests and Woodlands, Grasslands and Prairies, Urban and Suburban Areas, Agricultural and Cultivated Areas
Adult Habitat of Clover mite
Forests and Woodlands, Grasslands and Prairies, Urban and Suburban Areas, Agricultural and Cultivated Areas
What is the Best Weather to Observe Clover mite
Dry and warm weather is most suitable when attempting to find clover mite, as high humidity can negatively affect their activity and population.
How and Where Can You Find Clover mite at Different Life Stages
Juvenile Clover mite larvae can be found on the underside of leaves, where they might cause visible damage to the plant tissue. Inspect leaves on affected plants carefully using a magnifying glass. Clover mite nymphs are smaller and may be located on leaves or webs on the underside of leaves where they feed. Look for signs of silk webbing or stippling on leaves, which can indicate their presence.
Adult Adult clover mite are often found on the topside of leaves but can also reside on the underside, within the protective webbing they create. Identification might require closer examination with a hand lens or microscope to spot the tiny creatures.
Are Clover mite harmful?
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Clover mites damage plants by feeding on plant sap. They can also enter buildings in large swarms, causing trouble for humans.
Where do Clover mite come from?
Active entry. Clover mite constantly looks for the most comfortable habitat, therefore, when the indoor environment is better than the outdoor environment, as being small, they will take the initiative to immigrate into the rooms. The common situations include: Inhabited host plants are fully withered or believed to be cut off, the outdoor temperature is too low or too high, the outdoors is muggy and wet.
What is the most effective prevention against Clover mite?
Eliminate plants. Ensuring that there are no dense plants around the house is the best method to prevent clover mite from entering the indoors.
Tend the lawn. Increase the mowing frequency. The short grass will limit the population quantity of clover mite. Avoid excessive fertilization to prevent turfgrass from overgrowth. Use acarus-killing agent towards the turfgrass in the courtyard frequently, and extend it to the stones with a possible attachment of clover mite and surfaces of other buildings.
Close channels. Being very small, it is easy for clover mite to enter rooms from various gaps, thus, we should close the doors and windows at any time, and timely repair the cracks.
Increase humidity. Clover mite is fond of a warm and dry environment, and humidifier could be used indoors. In the courtyard, the quantity of clover mite could be reduced by irrigation and watering.
Plant special plants. Clover mite is not fond of some composites, such as geranium, zinnia, marigold, etc. This kind of plants could be planted more in the courtyard, which could reduce clover mite occurrence while enjoying the beautiful flowers.
How to get rid of Clover mite?
Use a vacuum cleaner. This is a method that could eliminate clover mite without crushing it. Note, the acarid collected shall be taken to the safe area far from the building for destruction, so as to avoid acarid escape.
Use an acarus-killing agent. Note, Please carry out the operation strictly according to the product instruction for use.
Clean up plants. If the occurrence of clover mite is always not controlled, please consider about full removal of plants infected by N1.
Common Questions People Also Ask
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