Clover Mite
Bryobia praetiosa
- Order & Family
- Order: Trombidiformes; Family: Tetranychidae (Spider Mites)
- Size
- Very small, typically 0.75 mm to 0.85 mm long (smaller than a pinhead).
Natural Habitat
Found worldwide, often on lawns, clover, grasses, and weeds. They frequently invade homes in spring and fall, gathering on sunny windowsills, walls, or siding.
Diet & Feeding
Herbivorous; they feed on the sap of various plants, heavily favoring clover, lawn grasses, and ornamental flowers.
Behavior Patterns
They are active in cooler weather (spring/fall) and become dormant in hot summers and freezing winters. When crushed, they leave a distinctive red stain due to their pigmentation, not blood. They reproduce parthenogenetically (females do not need males to reproduce).
Risks & Benefits
Harmless to humans and pets; they do not bite, sting, or transmit diseases. They are considered a nuisance pest when they invade homes in large numbers. While they feed on plants, significant damage to mature lawns is rare, though they can cause silvery streaks on leaves.