Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Control mites indoors
• Method 2 of 3: Kill mites outdoors
• Method 3 of 3: Repel mites outdoors
• Necessities
• Control mites indoors
• Kill mites outdoors
• Repel mites outdoors

Grass harlequin mites are tiny arachnids with long legs. They are red in color when they are young and brown when they are adults. These insects feed on plants that grow a lot on lawns. They are harmless to humans and pets, but can become a pest if left uncontrolled. Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to get rid of grass harlequin mites and to keep them from returning.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Control mites indoors

1. Vacuum the grass harlequin mites with a vacuum cleaner to get them out of your house. If you see a cluster of grass harlequin mites in your house, use a vacuum cleaner to vacuum them up. Then vacuum the floor, walls and window sills near the area in question to remove any mites and eggs that are not easily visible.
   • Don't kill the mites. This can cause red spots that are difficult to remove.
   • To prevent further infestation, make sure to seal the vacuum cleaner bag before throwing it away.
   • The eggs of the grass harlequin mite look like tiny, dark red spheres.
2. Spray an insecticide on the grass harlequin mites to kill them. To kill a cluster of mites, spray it with an insecticide that is safe for indoor use, such as permethrin, diazinon, bifenthrin, or chlorpyrifos. Make sure you spray the product on the mites themselves. If necessary, repeat the process until the mites are gone.
   • Insecticides that are safe for indoor use are sold in regular spray bottles and aerosols. You can buy them online and at most hardware stores.
   • Insecticides can deteriorate the air quality in your home, so use them only as a last resort.
3. Sprinkle boric acid on your furniture to get rid of grass harlequin mites. Detergents like borax contain boric acid, a chemical that repels and kills grass harlequin mites. If you are using washing powder, sprinkle it on your carpet, carpet and furniture. Most grass harlequin mites will stay away from the powder, but you can vacuum up any mites that remain in them with a vacuum cleaner.
   • If you are using liquid detergent, pour a small amount of the detergent into a spray bottle, dilute it with water, and spray the mixture on the grass harlequin mites.
4. Remove grass harlequin mites from your pets' coats with soap and water. If your dog or cat has grass harlequin mites in its coat, you should be able to get the mites all out by washing your pet thoroughly with soap and water. For best results, buy spirits from a hardware store, garden center or pet store.
   • Do not use regular insecticides to get the mites out of your pets' coats, just soap spirit.
   • Before using it to clean your pet's coat, look at the packaging of the spirit soap. Most spirits of soap are safe for animals, but others may not.

Method 2 of 3: Kill mites outdoors

1. Spray water on dry areas of your lawn where grass harlequin mites like to lay their eggs. Grass harlequin mites often lay their eggs on dry areas of land, such as areas near walls exposed to the sun and the soil around evergreens. You can prevent these eggs from hatching by spraying the dry areas with plenty of water.
   • The eggs of the grass harlequin mite look like small chestnut brown balls.
2. Cover individual plants with a liquid insecticide. If you see grass harlequin mites crawling on your trees and other plants, treat the affected greenery with a liquid insecticide or acaricide. Spray the insecticide on the plants early in the morning or late in the evening to prevent them from burning, and follow the directions on the package so you don't under or over use.
   • Use an insecticide such as permethrin, cyfluthrin, tetramethrin, tralomethrin, chlorpyrifos, or malathion. You can buy these resources online and at hardware stores.
3. Treat your entire lawn with a long range insecticide. If you see grass harlequin mites in your home and on your plants, chances are your entire lawn has been affected. If after further investigation this proves to be true, spray your lawn with a wide range insecticide such as permethrin. For the best results, use a water bottle with a nebulizer.
   • Dilute liquid insecticides and granular products with water according to package directions.
   • Make sure to treat your lawn early in the morning or evening so that the plants don't burn.
   • Wide range insecticides can be purchased online and at hardware stores.
4. Lay out strips of double-sided tape to catch the grass harlequin mites. If you find grass harlequin mites near your house, place strips of double-sided tape along your exterior walls and in front of openings like windowsills. When the mites get onto the tape, they will get stuck and eventually die. When the tape is full of dead mites, you can remove it and apply a new strip of tape.
   • You can also stick cling film on your house for greater reach.

Method 3 of 3: Repel mites outdoors

1. Spray your walls with an insecticide to keep mites away. Spray your exterior walls to a height of at least two feet with a coat of insecticide intended for outdoor use. You may need to spray your walls several times to get the infestation under control.
   • For best results, spray the insecticide on your walls early in the morning or late at night.
   • You can find insecticides that kill mites online and at hardware stores, such as permethrin, cyfluthrin, malathion, tralomethrin, tetramethrin and chlorpyrifos.
2. Sprinkle talcum powder, diatomaceous earth, or baking soda near doors and windows. Grass harlequin mites enter your home through windows, doors and cracks in the foundation. To avoid this, sprinkle a powder like talcum powder, diatomaceous earth, or baking soda in and around these potential entrances.
   • The powder sticks to the grass harlequin mites, making it difficult for them to move around and find food.
3. Dig up the soil around your house to get rid of the mites' food source. As long as the grass harlequin mites don't go away, dig up all the grass, weeds, and plants that are within two feet of your home. Grass harlequin mites need plant material to survive and removing all the plants from around your house reduces the risk of further infestation.
   • Cover these areas with mite repellant materials such as mulch or gravel to prevent weeds from growing.
   • If you want to plant new plants on the dug-up plaques, don't choose plants that attract grass harlequin mites, such as clover, dandelions, shepherd's purse, wild daffodils, strawberries, true sage, shell seed and primroses.
4. Plant plants that do not attract grass harlequin mites. If the grass harlequin mites keep coming back to your home, it may be time to replace your current plants with flowers and plants that the mites don't eat. Some plants that grass harlequin mites are not attracted to are:
   • Roses
   • Geraniums
   • Chrysanthemums
   • Conifers from the yew family
   • Juniper berries
   • Spruce
   • Trees of life

Necessities

Control mites indoors

• Vacuum cleaner
• Insecticide that is safe for indoor use
• Borax
• Soap spirit

Kill mites outdoors

• Water
• Liquid insecticide
• Long range insecticide
• Double-sided adhesive tape or cling film

Repel mites outdoors

• Insecticide intended for outdoor use
• Talcum powder, diatomaceous earth or baking soda
• Plants that repel mites