Clover mites on the windowsill: what they are and how to stop them

What clover mites are

Clover mites are not insects; they're relatives of spiders and ticks. They're reddish, tiny and have front legs so long they look like antennae. You'll usually notice them as moving red specks on a sunny sill.

Why they come inside

They feed on grass and clover, and they're most common where a lush, well-fertilized lawn runs right up to the house. On sunny days in spring they climb the south and west walls and slip in around windows and doors.

USU Extension describes clover mites as about the size of a period, living mainly in turfgrass and migrating indoors in late spring and fall, often up exterior walls and through windows by the hundreds or thousands. They stain fabric when smashed but aren't a health threat. The extension recommends a turf- and weed-free strip 3 to 5 feet wide around the building, which in most Salt Lake yards means pulling the lawn back from the siding.

Cleaning them up without stains

Crushed mites leave red-orange smears on sills, curtains and paint. Use a vacuum with a crevice tool instead of a cloth, and empty it outside.

The fix that lasts

The recommended fix is changing the lawn edge.

• A grass- and weed-free strip 3 to 5 feet wide along the foundation
• Gravel, bark or bare soil in that strip instead of turf
• Sealing gaps around windows on the sunny sides
• A treatment along the foundation and base of the walls in early spring

When to call

If mites come back every spring or you're seeing them by the thousand, a treatment timed to early spring makes a big difference, especially while a buffer strip is being put in.

Sources

• extension.usu.edu