Clover mites are small, red mites that feed on grasses, clovers and flowers, as well as shrubs. They can do a lot of damage to these plants. However, they do not feed on humans or pets, like other mites do. They can infest your home, though, and when crushed, they leave a red stain behind.
Clover mites can infest in very large numbers. During the warm weather months, eggs that were laid in the foundation of your home will hatch, and the clover mites will migrate to the outside and inside walls. The mites enter your home through cracks in the foundation, areas near windows and doors, and any other small openings inside your home.
Prevention is usually the best way to manage clover mites. Trim any long grasses, clover or lawn areas near your home. Make sure there are no bushes or shrubs planted next to your foundation that attract clover mites. Maintain a barrier of sand or pea gravel next to the base of your foundation and keep your plants mulched.
If these methods don't keep your home free of clover mites, you can use some common household insecticides to treat the mites. Some miticides can be used around the foundation, but be sure to check with a pest control professional to make certain you are using the proper quantities and products.
Indoors, you can treat baseboards, windowsills and the area between screens or storm windows. Soapy water will kill mites on contact and can be used to control small masses of mites on most surfaces. Using any pesticide indoors improperly could be hazardous to you and your pets, so make sure that you discuss options with a pest control professional.