What tiny red spiders spotted around the UK are - and how to get rid of them

You may have noticed that there are some rather menacing looking creepy crawlies around this summer.

Many Brits have spotted tiny red spiders outside their homes, with many wondering where they came from.

But what actually are they? And how can you get rid of them?

You may be surprised to hear this, but the little red spiders found in your garden aren't actually spiders at all – despite looking like them.

They are actually known as clover mites or Bryobia praetiosa.

The creepy crawlies are also described as bugs and blood spiders.

They've also been said to have an orange colour as on a microscope they look like an orangey red shade.

The bugs are named clover mites because they like to feed on clover but they also eat other grasses, as well as some trees, plants, and shrubs.

The tiny mites measure under 1mm in size, according to pest control provider Big Blue Bug, and have long legs pointing forward from their body.

Commonly, they are referred to as spiders due to their shape and are closely related.

They are in fact arachnids and have eight legs.

Infestations of clover mites reach their peak when there are sudden changes in the weather or their habitat.

The mites usually move indoors in the autumn when the plants they feed on start to perish.

This can cause the pests to invade – even in their hundreds of thousands.

Infestations can happen in the spring too with the sudden growth of lush vegetation found in gardens.

During hotter summer months, clover mites will lay eggs and become latent.

The eggs are often located in the cracks and crevices of a home’s exterior or between walls.

Red spider mites are capable of reproducing very quickly in the summer breeding season.

This is because they may lay eggs which will cause even more of the insects to invade your home space.

Coming into autumn and the cooler weather, they often look for drier areas to hibernate and often invade houses.

This is why they're often found on window frames and cracks in the wall in houses, Oxford City Council says.

How do you get rid of tiny red spiders in your garden?

The best way to stop an infestation of the mites is to keep your lawn mowed on a regular basis, according to 247PestControl.

They also advise against fertilising your lawns and gardens as the bugs thrive in fertilised plants.

If a plant does become infected, it's best to isolate them before a cluster spreads.

Pest.org says that the signs you should look out for are the white and silk spots on plant leaves, as well as silk webs on the undersides.

It's also recommended to keep plants in moist and humid conditions to drive the creatures away.

The British Pest Control Association recommends contacting a pest control official if you have an infestation.

You can also try pesticides and miticides, although you need to select a non-toxic, organic option so as not to harm other insects.

Despite looking a bit scary, the red spider mite is harmless to humans and can't hurt animals either.

The mites can be a real nuisance for arachnophobes though as they tend to gather in large numbers.

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