Clover mite

Clover mite
Large silver sharp instrument piercing piece of paper is next to a much smaller mite to show scale. The sharp object is the point of a sewing needle.
Clover mite with sewing needle for scale
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Trombidiformes
Family: Tetranychidae
Genus: Bryobia
Species:
B. praetiosa
Binomial name
Bryobia praetiosa

The clover mite (Bryobia praetiosa) is a species of mite. Clover mites are located worldwide across every continent except Antarctica. Clover mites usually reside in vegetation, rocks, or other common surfaces in which they typically feed on nearby foliage including, but not limited to clovers, dandelions, and other available plants.

Description

Clover mites are oval-shaped arachnids, 0.75–0.85 mm (0.030–0.033 in) long, with a pair of long legs pointing forward often mistaken for antennae.[2] They are reddish brown; the younger ones and the eggs are a bright red. They are extremely common in late spring in North America. They possess piercing-sucking mouthparts, used to consume plant sap. [3]

Ecology

Clover mites are polyphagous, feeding on a wide range of plants, including "lawn grasses, ornamental flowers, clover, dandelion, shepherd's purse, strawberry, daffodil, Salvia, Alyssum, and primrose".[2] They are especially numerous in lawns with a heavy growth of succulent, well-fertilized grass. They do not cause any apparent harm to turf grass, but their feeding activity can turn the grass a silvery color and may stipple plants when heavy populations are present.[citation needed]

Clover mites reproduce partheno­genetically — their eggs do not need to be fertilized and are entirely female. Females lay about 70 eggs each.[4] Clover mites undergo a six-legged larval stage and two eight-legged nymph stages before maturity. [5]

Clover mites generally enter houses close to thick vegetation and can infiltrate houses in very large numbers through cracks and small openings around windows and doors, and are occasionally considered pests. Whether indoors or outside, clover mites are found more commonly in sunny areas than in darker areas. If "squished", they leave a characteristic red stain caused by their pigmentation.[6]

Clover mites are not harmful to humans, pets, or furniture.[7]

References

  1. ^ "Species Bryobia praetiosa Koch, 1835". Australian Faunal Directory. Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. October 9, 2008. Retrieved January 21, 2010.
  2. ^ a b Gomez, Celina; Mizell, Russell F. (September 2008). "Clover Mite Bryobia praetiosa Koch". Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. EENY 437. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
  3. ^ Vallie, Sarah. "Clover Mites: What to Know". WebMD. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  4. ^ "Clover Mite". entnemdept.ifas.ufl.edu/. Retrieved 2019-06-10.
  5. ^ Vallie, Sarah. "Clover Mites: What to Know". WebMD. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  6. ^ "Clover Mites | Entomology". entomology.ca.uky.edu. Retrieved 2022-06-04. Sheer numbers, plus the resulting red-brown stain left behind if they are crushed, make them unwelcome visitors. The red stains are not blood, they are the mite's body pigments.
  7. ^ "Clover Mites". extension2.missouri.edu. Retrieved 2019-02-25.

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