Did you ever notice small red insects moving from one place to the other within the compound of your house? These small red arachnids can be called clover mites, frequently observed in several homes but particularly noticeable at some periods of the year. Although they are not dangerous to humans or pets, they can be problematic. Finding and removing these bugs in your home can be complicated, but don’t worry, we present you with a complete guide on how to get rid of these pests.
What Are the Little Red Spiders?
Little red spiders, which are hardly visible to the eyes or are called clover mites, actually fall under the Tetranychidae family. However, the classification of whip spiders is somewhat misleading because they are not even part of the spider order but are very closely related. These snakes are sometimes as small as one-thirty minutes of an inch in their developed size and can be observed to be red or what appears to be red-brown reproduction specks at maximum. They are conspicuous due to their color and are often easily seen in groups on walls, window sills, or plants.
Essential facts about clover mites are that they are small and are most common during autumn and spring since they are cold-independent bugs. These are herbivores that suck plant sap, grass, or any other plant. That is why they are usually found feasting in gardens or lawns. Mostly, they knock on doors searching for shelter in homes.
How to Identify Clover Mites
Here are some key characteristics to help you identify clover mites:
- Size and Shape: They are little organisms, even barely visible to the naked eye, and seem to flutter on surfaces like particles.
- Color: They are shells depicted as having either a bright red color or reddish-brown.
- Behavior: Each clover mite can move in groups at times and is usually noticeable on sunny walls or windows or around any indoor plant.
- Crushing Stains: If you squash them, they turn red, and washing off the color from the surface is very difficult. This stain is not blood, but its true color that reacts with the porphyrin in hemoglobin.
Are Clover Mites Harmful?
This is not a great concern as their bites are not felt and do not harm humans and pets. Well, they don’t have teeth to bite or claws to scratch or any disease-carrying germs. But they are considered a menace when they enter our homes in large numbers. Once squished, their effectiveness in staining the wall, furniture, or fabric makes them regarded as unsuitable tenants.
How to Safely Remove Little Red Spiders
If you find clover mites in your home, follow these steps to remove them safely without causing damage or spreading stains:
1. Vacuum Them Up
Despite this, there are specific techniques for removing the mites, where you use the vacuum cleaner with the hose part to suck the mites. Do not apply pressure to them to avoid staining of the neighboring surfaces.
Throw away the vacuum bag or take the canister outside and empty it to avoid the pests again.
2. Wipe with a Damp Cloth
Damp cloth or sponges can trap the mites after which they are wiped or washed off the wall, windowsills, or other affected surfaces.
We should be gentle this way, for we dare not squish them.
3. Seal Entry Points
Check if your home has cracks, gaps, or any openings in the windows, doors, or foundations.
Most of your home will contain gaps; these gaps need to be filled to the best of your ability with caulk or weatherstripping to prevent further invasion.
4. Use Sticky Traps
Insects like clover mites are easily controlled using sticky traps, although these traps are mainly used for other pests.
Lay them around doors and windows or close to regions where you have spotted the mites.
5. Natural Remedies
Apply porous earth throughout the contact points and the infected parts. This natural powder removes moisture and kills mites.
The other method is the use of soapy water. You should add some drops of dish soap to the water in the spray bottle and then apply it on mite-infested surfaces.
6. Avoid Overwatering Plants
Another sign is clover mites, likely found on overwatered lawns and gardens. It is also recommended that they adhere to the right watering times to minimize their feeding base.
Preventing Future Infestations
As with most pests, it is easier to keep them away from your residences than it is to deal with an infestation. Here are some tips to keep them at bay:
1. Create a Barrier
There should be a strip of vegetation-free around your home, about 18-24 inches. Replace the usual colorful grass and plants around the base of the building with rocks, mulch, or gravel.
2. Regular Maintenance
Make sure your home has no cracks or gaps; if they appear, ensure you rectify them as soon as possible. Fix them quickly to provide no passage routes for the pests.
3. Monitor Vegetation
Prune bushes, trees, vines, and shrubs growing close to your house. This limits their food resources and areas they might be able to avoid getting caught.
4. Install Screens
The installation of screens should prevent helpless pests that are likely to find their way into the rooms through windows and vents.
Control Humidity
Ensure that indoor relative humidity remains low. Clover mites love humidity, so housing a dehumidifier can assist in managing the issue.
In the Last
Little red spiders, known as clover mites, are non-threatening insects annoying when they invade residents’ homes. As a result, you can effectively eliminate them from your homes while avoiding worsening the situation with their aggressive behavior. By taking some prior precautions of sealing the cracks on the walls, keeping your garden clean, and using nontoxic repellent, those tiny red creatures would remain where they are meant to be outside.
