Bug Identifier
Clover Mite
Community identification

Clover Mite

Bryobia praetiosa

Order & Family
Trombidiformes, Tetranychidae
Size
0.75-1 mm (0.03-0.04 inches)
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Outdoors on grass, clover, weeds, and various plants; indoors near windows, especially in spring and fall.

Diet & Feeding

Plant feeders, primarily feeding on clover, grasses, and other herbaceous plants by piercing plant cells and sucking out the contents.

Behavior Patterns

Clover mites are known for migrating indoors in large numbers, particularly during temperature changes (e.g., from warm to cold or dry to wet conditions) in spring and fall. They do not bite humans or animals but can be a nuisance due to their sheer numbers and the reddish-brown stains they leave when crushed.

Risks & Benefits

Potential risks include being a nuisance pest indoors due to their abundance and the stains they leave when crushed. They do not transmit diseases or cause structural damage. In gardens, heavy infestations can cause some discoloration or stippling on plants, but significant damage is rare.