Those tiny, red home invaders you’re seeing around your windows are lawn mites (or clover mites). You likely won’t notice you have an infestation until they start flooding inside your home to escape the weather.
Because lawn mites are sensitive, they come inside during spring rainstorms and after sharp increases or decreases in temperature. Once inside, they are most comfortable near windows and sunny areas. However, after a few days inside, separated from their food source, clover mites usually die.
How to Get Rid of Lawn Mites (Clover Mites)
Though lawn mites are not aggressive or harmful to humans, they are a nuisance and can create splotchy, red stains on furniture or carpet. To eliminate this pest, you can vacuum them and apply mite spray in and around your home. Stewart’s pest control program can successfully get rid of lawn mites (among other arachnids/insects) and create a barrier to prevent more from entering.
Lawn Mite Damage and How to Prevent It
When they are outside, lawn mites usually feed on grass blades and other plants, creating small yellow patches. They especially target dry, warm areas of the yard where the plants are more likely to experience heat stress.
The combination of heat stress and clover mite feeding can cause discoloration on the grass. However, proper watering in those areas should reduce the damage.
To prevent lawn mites, you can also remove grass from hotspots (like near the base of your home) and replace it with mulch and plants that deter mites:
- Marigold
- Rose
- Salvia
- Geranium
- Zinnia
- Petunia
- Chrysanthemum
- Juniper
- Spruce
This should help prevent mites from entering your home and reduce the number of lawn mite target areas in your yard.
Stewart’s Pest Service can help eliminate your lawn (clover) mite problem. Call or text our office at 801-226-2261 for a free pest control quote today!
Image by Tomasz Klejdysz/ shutterstock.com