Biology:Clover mite
| Clover mite | |
|---|---|
| |
| Clover mite with sewing needle for scale | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Trombidiformes |
| Family: | Tetranychidae |
| Genus: | Bryobia |
| Species: | B. praetiosa
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| Binomial name | |
| Bryobia praetiosa C. L. Koch, 1835 [1]
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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 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
- ↑ "Species Bryobia praetiosa Koch, 1835". Australian Faunal Directory. Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. October 9, 2008. http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/online-resources/fauna/afd/taxa/Bryobia_praetiosa.
- ↑ Gomez, Celina; Mizell, Russell F. (September 2008). "Clover Mite Bryobia praetiosa Koch". Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in776.
- ↑ Vallie, Sarah. "Clover Mites: What to Know" (in en). https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/clover-mites-what-to-know.
- ↑ "Clover Mite" (in en-US). https://entnemdept.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/orn/mites/clover_mite.htm.
- ↑ Vallie, Sarah. "Clover Mites: What to Know" (in en). https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/clover-mites-what-to-know.
- ↑ "Clover Mites | Entomology". https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef627. "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."
- ↑ "Clover Mites" (in en-US). https://extension2.missouri.edu/g7358.
External links
- Arnarsdóttir, Eygló Svala (May 25, 2007). "Red invasion". Iceland Review Online. http://icelandreview.com/icelandreview/daily_life/?cat_id=16571&ew_0_a_id=282730. Retrieved July 5, 2007.
Wikidata ☰ Q4981050 entry
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