Clover Mites vs Chiggers {How To Easily Tell Them Apart}

Distinguishing clover mites and chiggers can prove to be very difficult. Mistaking one for the other is very frequent when it comes down to the family of mites.

So what are the differences between clover mites and chiggers?

A clover mite will grow on average to 1 mm in size whilst a chigger will only grow to 0.4 mm in size. Clover mites also have eight legs compared to chiggers who have 6 legs.

There are also many more differences which I will cover below.

Clover Mites vs Chiggers

The main differences between clover mites and chiggers are

1. Size Comparison

Chiggers are smaller than clover mites. An adult chigger, on average, is 0.4 mm long whereas a fully-grown clover mite is as long as 1 mm.

Chiggers are generally not visible to the naked eye. On the other hand, clover mites can be seen when they are crawling around light-colored surfaces.

2. Number of Legs

Clover mites and mature chiggers have eight legs; however, juvenile chiggers have just six legs. Having said that you will only be able to see how many legs they have by looking at them under a microscope.

3. Chigger Lifespan

The lifespan of a chigger is about two months, but a female can live up to 10 to 12 months. Females produce multiple generations of larvae. You will most likely notice chiggers in the late spring and summer.

When considering the lifespan of a chigger on a human, it should not last for more than 2 to 3 days. Although a trigger can attach itself to a host, it will not be able to burrow into the skin. You may not notice the bite of a chigger for up to 3 hours.

Eating Habits of Clover Mites and Chiggers

To shatter a quintessential myth, clover mites do not feed on human blood! They obtain nutrition from plants, sucking juices from clover plants, grasses, and much other vegetation commonly found in gardens and lawns.

These mites can also be observed on rooftops and terraces, where their predominant source of food is mold or mildew. Nevertheless, do not panic if you spot a clover mite on your skin as they are not there to harm you.

Chiggers, on the other hand, are a bit hungry! They move on your skin, strategically, looking for a suitable place to feed. Most probably lurking around a layer of thin skin, chiggers do not directly dig into the skin to suck blood.

As an alternative, they pierce the layer of the skin using their claw-like mouthpiece and inject their saliva inside the bite. The fluid tends to dissolve the cells, and eventually tissues, which are then sucked up by the chiggers in the form of food.

Primarily, it is not the adult chiggers that bite. Instead, it is their babies, known as larvae that you ought to dread.

Here’s some good news: The adult chiggers, being more mature, feed on plants and mosquito eggs. So, a few chigger bites can actually save you from mosquito bites!

Do Clover Mites Bite?

No. Clover mites have no intention of biting humans. They are not looking to bite humans, but rather foliage such as:

trees
grass
ivy

clovers (of course)

This is why we shouldn’t mistake a clover mite for a chigger who would bite humans. A Clover mite is not going to cause any health issues for humans, but they will create frustration after large infestations infiltrate your home.

If you notice tiny bugs that are red in color crawling in or out of your home you must act immediately and eliminate clover mites from infesting the area.

Life Span of Clover Mites and Chiggers

Adult clover mites usually subsist for approximately two weeks outdoors, with their generation enduring for about a month.

The weather conditions of the region are a chief factor in impacting the development and, consequently, the lifespan of clover mites. An interesting fact about clover mites is that they cannot reproduce inside!

The life cycle of chiggers is about two months long. Female chiggers can live up to a period of one year, reproducing throughout the extent of their lives, leading to a rapid increase in the number.

Are Clover Mites and Chiggers The Same

Clover mites and chiggers might be difficult to distinguish instantly as they both share the color range of bright red to reddish-brown.

Grassy areas are a common hub for both the insects to be found in.

Otherwise, chiggers and clover mites prefer distinct surroundings as the former is only found outdoors in a moist, wooded and grassy environment; the latter being found outside as well as inside houses.

Final Words

Chiggers and Clover Mites are like twin brothers that people are able to tell apart only with a closer look. However, after going through the text, you will be able to guess the right bug right away.

Clover mites believe in the notion, “Unity is Strength” as they are often witnessed in large numbers. They are also known as “nuisance pests” as they do not bite people and hence, do not transmit any diseases.

They are inactive during summers and winters and normally active during spring and fall season.

Chiggers, on the other hand, are seen both in groups and alone. Chigger larvae do bite people.

Their bite causes a lot of irritation and redness. At times, in cases of serious itching, a specialist ought to be consulted. Summer is their active season.

Thanks for visiting ThePestManagement.com for the best information to help you to make the pest control process easy, safe & affordable.

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