Clover Mite
Scientific Name: 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.
Identified on: 3/1/2026