Bird mites are naturally present in locations having birds (including sparrows, pigeons, starlings, and poultry) and their nests. However, bird mites may infest homes in the first few days after a bird’s departure from its nest in the hope of feeding on human blood. Bird mite bites can be highly bothersome. Take a look here to know more about how to exterminate bird mites in your home.
Preventing and treating bird mites in your home
Bird mites are widespread in many temperate and tropical areas of the world. There are many other species of bird mites, but the domestic starling mite (known as Ornithonyssus bursa) of the family Macronyssidae is the species most frequently encountered by people.
Bird mites are:
- tiny (less than 1 mm in length)
- mites with eight legs
- incredibly mobile
- semi-transparent until the blood has been metabolized
- They have a reddish to blackish color.
- oval in shape, with short hair covering it lightly.
Where can they be found?
Bird mites normally appear in areas featuring birds (including pigeons, starlings, sparrows, and poultry) and their nests. They usually belong to damp or humid environments and are at their most active in the spring and early summer. In the hope of finding a blood meal, they might move into homes and crawl on beds, walls, and ceilings. When young birds abandon their nests and the mite ends up without enough food to feed on, humans may be exposed to the mite.
How do they manage to live
- Consume bird blood.
- Survive and flourish in the nesting material of birds
- Grow rapidly in number.
- Usually die in three weeks if they do not receive blood from a bird host.
How to get rid of them
-
Recognizing them
Determining how to handle mite infestations requires accurate bird mite identification.
-
Locate and eliminate them
Finding and removing bird nests is the most efficient way to manage an infestation. To stop the spread of mites and bacterial illnesses, gloves and a mask should be worn when removing nests. There might be nests:
- On window ledges
- In foundations and basements around porches
- In cavities in walls
- In roof spaces
- Around eaves and in chimneys
-
Prevention and eradication
Keeping birds at bay can be as easy as repairing any broken tiles and blocking any gaps in roof cavities or eaves. Spray the infected area with an insecticide approved for use on bird mites, such as surface spray or insecticide powder. Large areas or out-of-reach nesting material may need a registered pest controller.
Can humans get bird mites, and how do they affect them?
Usually not. Due to their species-specificity, bird mites likely will not harm people and cannot thrive only on human blood. Although it is rare, you may possibly get bitten by a bird mite, which might look like other bug bites in appearance and itching. Clean your skin and use a topical steroid, just like you would with any other flea or bed bug bite.
Although sometimes they feed on humans, bird mites cannot finish their life cycle on humans and hence do not live on humans. Therefore, if birds and nesting have been removed, infestations usually go away on by themselves.
Bird mites do not:
- prefer to bite any specific area of the body
- Live under skin
What are the signs and symptoms?
There are several signs and symptoms which is quite similar to other insect bites:
- develop extreme skin irritation, resulting in itching, edema, and elevated red areas.
- caused by mites injecting saliva during eating
- causing discomfort,
- may cause secondary infections as a result of scratching.
- are not linked to the spreading of any infectious diseases.
- Sometimes they are hard to identify and might be mistaken for other insect bites.
Some people will find it irritating to feel the crawling bird mites on their skin.
Avoiding bird mite bites
Using an insect repellent that contains 3-methyl-n->diethylbenzamide or diethyl meta-toluamide (DEET) is the best defense against bird mite bites. An anti-itch lotion or cream can reduce bite-related irritation.
Bird mites are naturally present in locations having birds (including sparrows, pigeons, starlings, and poultry) and their nests. However, bird mites may infest homes in the first few days after a bird’s departure from its nest in the hope of feeding on human blood. Bird mite bites can be highly bothersome. Take a look here to know more about how to exterminate bird mites in your home.
Preventing and treating bird mites in your home
Bird mites are widespread in many temperate and tropical areas of the world. There are many other species of bird mites, but the domestic starling mite (known as Ornithonyssus bursa) of the family Macronyssidae is the species most frequently encountered by people.
Bird mites are:
- tiny (less than 1 mm in length)
- mites with eight legs
- incredibly mobile
- semi-transparent until the blood has been metabolized
- They have a reddish to blackish color.
- oval in shape, with short hair covering it lightly.
Where can they be found?
Bird mites normally appear in areas featuring birds (including pigeons, starlings, sparrows, and poultry) and their nests. They usually belong to damp or humid environments and are at their most active in the spring and early summer. In the hope of finding a blood meal, they might move into homes and crawl on beds, walls, and ceilings. When young birds abandon their nests and the mite ends up without enough food to feed on, humans may be exposed to the mite.
How do they manage to live
- Consume bird blood.
- Survive and flourish in the nesting material of birds
- Grow rapidly in number.
- Usually die in three weeks if they do not receive blood from a bird host.
How to get rid of them
-
Recognizing them
Determining how to handle mite infestations requires accurate bird mite identification.
-
Locate and eliminate them
Finding and removing bird nests is the most efficient way to manage an infestation. To stop the spread of mites and bacterial illnesses, gloves and a mask should be worn when removing nests. There might be nests:
- On window ledges
- In foundations and basements around porches
- In cavities in walls
- In roof spaces
- Around eaves and in chimneys
-
Prevention and eradication
Keeping birds at bay can be as easy as repairing any broken tiles and blocking any gaps in roof cavities or eaves. Spray the infected area with an insecticide approved for use on bird mites, such as surface spray or insecticide powder. Large areas or out-of-reach nesting material may need a registered pest controller.
Can humans get bird mites, and how do they affect them?
Usually not. Due to their species-specificity, bird mites likely will not harm people and cannot thrive only on human blood. Although it is rare, you may possibly get bitten by a bird mite, which might look like other bug bites in appearance and itching. Clean your skin and use a topical steroid, just like you would with any other flea or bed bug bite.
Although sometimes they feed on humans, bird mites cannot finish their life cycle on humans and hence do not live on humans. Therefore, if birds and nesting have been removed, infestations usually go away on by themselves.
Bird mites do not:
- prefer to bite any specific area of the body
- Live under skin
What are the signs and symptoms?
There are several signs and symptoms which is quite similar to other insect bites:
- develop extreme skin irritation, resulting in itching, edema, and elevated red areas.
- caused by mites injecting saliva during eating
- causing discomfort,
- may cause secondary infections as a result of scratching.
- are not linked to the spreading of any infectious diseases.
- Sometimes they are hard to identify and might be mistaken for other insect bites.
Some people will find it irritating to feel the crawling bird mites on their skin.
Avoiding bird mite bites
Using an insect repellent that contains 3-methyl-n->diethylbenzamide or diethyl meta-toluamide (DEET) is the best defense against bird mite bites. An anti-itch lotion or cream can reduce bite-related irritation.
