10/09/2026
BUG FACT FRIDAYS!
Smaller than a pinhead and colored a brilliant ruby red, clover mites are actually plant-feeding arachnids closely related to spiders and ticks. Surprisingly, you will never find a male clover mite in the wild—the entire population consists of females who reproduce by laying unfertilized eggs that hatch into exact genetic clones. If they wander indoors to escape extreme weather, be careful not to squish them; they leave behind a bright crimson smear that is simply their natural body pigment.
Have a great Friday!