How do I get rid of little red spiders on the windowsill?

Question: We have little red spiders. There are piles of them on the windowsill. I vacuumed them last week, now they are back in droves. How do I get rid of them?

Answer: What you may have are clover mites (Bryobia praetiosa). They are small, reddish mites, about the size of the head of a pin and usually moving around very quickly. Problems with these mites usually occur in the spring, but there are regions that also experience population increases in the fall.

These mites live and feed in turfgrass and for the most part remain unnoticed. Every once in a while (and we don’t know why) populations get very large, and the mites start to migrate from the grass. They usually move out of the grass and up the sides of houses. Sometimes they enter houses through windows and doors. They will not harm the house and will not bite people or pets. They can be a nuisance. If they are crushed, they can leave a stain.

A quick control method is to wash them off the side of the house with a garden hose, and you can vacuum them from sites indoors. Call your local Orkin Branch Office to have a highly trained Orkin Pest Specialist come to your home and conduct an inspection. Upon assessing the situation, your Orkin Pest Specialist will make recommendations on ways to close down entry points and develop a customized treatment backed by science to best meet your needs.

Related Questions

Orkin used the information above to also answer the following questions submitted by Orkin.com users:

Question: Our subdivision seems to have a huge infestation of red spider mites. They are on the inside and outside of several houses, my mother’s seems to be the most affected, and the inside of her house is literally “crawling” with the pests. Is this common? Can it be dealt with? How long will it take to get rid of them?

Question: What type of treatment do you provide for clover mite infestations?

Question: I have found out that I have Spider Mites throughout my house. I have been told that they are not dangerous to my children. They are everywhere. The company that sprays my house now has made two attempts. What can you do?

Question: This is the third year I've had an invasion of clover mites. They are driving me nuts. How can I get rid of them and keep them from coming back in the next years to come. I've tried watching to see where they are coming from, but I can't tell. I see them in the grass, in flower beds, on the patio, concrete, and the house. I've had some come in through the door or window. The different websites I've visited to read on clover mites say different things. Please help me!!!

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Question: I just found out we have tropical rat mites infestation. I have a 4 yr old and a 3 month old my question is, Is it dangerous for them to be in the home with them?

Question: What are the tiny red bugs outside? Kinda look like spiders. When you squash them they leave a red mark.

Question: I have noticed some sort of insect around my windows and doors and on the floor in front of these areas. The insect appears to be really tiny (about the size of a ball point pen head) and looks to be reddish in color. Any place that I notice these bugs there seems to be a lot of them in the area.

Question: I have thousands of reddish brown spots all over my house and on my car. I believe they are from some kind of insect....can you help me figure out what kind of bug it is and how to get rid of them. And if you know, any ideas on how to remove this spots...thanks so much!!

Question: We are having a problem with this swarm of tiny little bugs. My husband says they remind him of chiggers. We went away for a week and when we came home our bath tub was filled with the little insects. Since then we find them every day. We have tried spraying bleach, to no avail. There is only a noticeable problem when the lawn is mowed. When squashed they leave a sort of reddish brown color trail. I want to know what they are, and what we can do to keep them out of our house.