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Bird Mites
- Mites that invade homes and bite people -
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Summary: There are a number of small mites that normally feed on the blood of animals such as birds and rodents but can bite people as well. These mites do not usually infest homes long-term but may enter rooms from a nearby abandoned animal nest. Bites are irritating and itchy but not otherwise dangerous.
Jack DeAngelis, PhD
OSU Ext. Entomologist (ret.)
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What are bird/rodent/nest mites?
 These mites belong to a group of poultry, bird and rodent ectoparasites that live in the nest of an animal (host) and feed on its blood. They normally do not leave the nest but may do so if the nest is abandoned for some reason, or the host animal dies.
When mites leave the animal host's nest they can enter homes, sometimes in large numbers. They will bite people but cannot survive and reproduce on our blood alone. The bite is irritating and itchy but not otherwise dangerous. Mites can survive for weeks or even months without feeding.
Bites can also occur when people handle birds, poultry or rodents. For example people who raise poultry and pet store workers frequently report bird mite bites. Adult mites are about 1/32" and often dark in color because of the presence of blood inside the mite (see photo).
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Bird mite (~1/32") (probably Pellonyssus gorgasi) and a human hair. Dark coloration inside mite is blood on which the mite had fed; some use the term "black pepper mite" referring to this coloration. This photo was taken with a inexpensive digital camera, and digitally enlarged. Photo by E. DeAngelis.
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What do bird mite bites look like?
The reaction to a bite varies from person to person and even depends on which species of mite caused the bite. In general, however, the bite site will be bright red in color, sometimes surrounded by a rash. The bites often itch and treatment is generally by OTC anti-itch lotions. Obviously you should seek medical attention if the bite site becomes infected.
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Myths and misinformation
There's considerable misinformation about bird mites, much of it propagated by sites promoting remedies to imagined whole-house infestations. There's no evidence whatsoever that any of the bird/nest mites infest houses. Rather they enter houses when their natural animal hosts are absent but they don't establish a permanent infestation because we are not a suitable substitute host.
Bird mites do not jump, hop or fly and in fact can't move very far from their source (see the short, stubby legs in the photo above). So where you find them the original source nest is probably nearby. They don't burrow into skin and are easy to wash off with soap and water. The mites are small but not impossible to see, even without magnification (see photo above). They DO NOT multiply in homes and are not difficult to eliminate once the original animal nest is removed.
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How to eliminate bird mites
The first and most important step is to locate and remove the infested bird or rodent nest. In the case of song birds remember that you cannot, by endangered species protection laws, disturb the occupied nests of most birds in the US, but there are some exceptions which vary by state. However, mites normally won't leave an occupied nest anyway so this should not be a problem.
Second, carefully clean the room where mites are found. Vacuum rugs, drapes, furniture and so forth, and dispose of the dustbag outside because mites can escape from the bag. Next, wash hard surfaces with a suitable, mild detergent. Insecticides are generally not needed but if you decide to treat use one of the new botanical, plant-based insecticides (see Using Botanical Pesticides) as a safer alternative.
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Mission: To provide accurate, up-to-date and unbiased information for solving common insect and mite problems around your home, business and landscape using least-toxic methods.
Jack DeAngelis, Ph.D.
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