THOSE tiny red spiders that keep popping up around the garden can be a scourge for British gardeners in the warmer months.
But despite its name, the tiny little red spiders are actually not spiders at all – find out here what they are.
What are the little red spiders called?
The tiny red spiders found in the garden are not actually spiders at all despite their appearance.
Rather, they are known as clover mites or Bryobia praetiosa.
They are named clover mites because they like to feed on clover but they also eat other grasses, as well as some trees, ornamental plants, and shrubs.
The mites measure under 1mm in size, according to pest control provider Big Blue Bug, and have long legs pointing forward from their body.
However, they are commonly referred to as spiders due to their shape and are closely related.
In fact, they are arachnids and have eight legs.
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Why do I have clover mites?
Infestations of clover mites are at their peak when there are sudden changes in the weather or their habitat.
The mites usually move indoors in autumn when the plants they feed on start to perish, causing these pests to invade – even in their hundreds of thousands.
Infestations also occur in the spring with the sudden growth of lush vegetation found in gardens.
During the hotter summer weather, clover mites will lay eggs and become latent.
These eggs are often positioned in the cracks and crevices of a home’s exterior or between walls.
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Why are there so many of them?
The red spider mites are capable of reproducing very quickly in the summer breeding season.
Coming into autumn and the cooler weather, they tend to look for drier areas to hibernate and often infiltrate houses.
This is why they can be found on window frames and cracks in the wall in houses, Oxford City Council says.
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How do you get rid of little red spiders in your garden?
According to 247PestControl, the best way to stop an infestation of the mites is to keep your lawn mowed on a regular basis.
In addition, they advise against fertilising your lawns and gardens as the creatures thrive in fertilised plants.
If plants do become infected, it is best to isolate them before a cluster spreads.
Pest.org says that the signs to look out for are the white and silk spots on plant leaves, as well as silk webs on the undersides.
It is also advised to keep plants in moist and humid conditions to drive the creatures away.
The British Pest Control Association recommends contacting a pest control official if you have an infestation.
However, you can try pesticides and miticides, although you need to select a non-toxic, organic option so as not to harm other insects.
Insecticide aerosols can be used indoors, but make sure you are not using harmful propellants or any ozone-damaging chemicals.
What does little red spider damage look like?
Adult clover mites leave behind a red stain when they are crushed.
The stain leaves a mark on household furnishings such as carpets, curtains and wallpaper.
They also can damage garden leaves as they suck up the juice and plant cells from the leaves.
The first signs of red spider mite damage are light dots on leaves.
If left untreated the leaves then turn yellow and drop off.
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Are they dangerous?
No. The red spider mite is harmless to humans and cannot hurt animals either.
And the mites can be a real nuisance for arachnophobes and tend to gather in large numbers.
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