Ecoguard

Bird mites parasitize a wide variety of domestic and wild birds, including poultry, pigeons, starlings, sparrows and robins. These mites normally remain on birds or in bird nests throughout their life. Mite eggs are laid in nests or on feathers. Hatching occurs in two to three days and adults are seen about five days later if birds are present. However, if a bird falls out of a nest and dies or a nest is abandoned, bird mites seek other hosts. These mites may enter homes, sometimes in large numbers to search for food when nests are on or in buildings. Although bird mites often bite people, circumstances have been described where they are found in large numbers but do not appear to annoy anyone. The bird mites we encounter most often are northern fowl mites, Ornithonyssus sylviarum, and chicken mite, Dermanyssus gallinae. Both these mites feed commonly on chickens and other poultry but they are also common on many song birds. Northern fowl mites are known to survive up to six weeks without a bird blood meal while chicken mites are known to live as long as several months without

They are 0.1 to 2mm long,oval,translucent with eight legs(Larvae have six legs).

 

To the naked eye the adult male bird mite looks like a grey black spot about as big as a pin head moving across the floor. The mites breed on a number of birds including starlings sparrows and pigeons. During summer these birds build their nest/roost in/on top of people's roofs, buildings, industrial factories and farm sheds. Over the nesting period the mites will reach plague numbers. When the birds leave their nest the mites search for another host, and may be seen migrating down the walls. Most victims first realise that they have bird mite when red weals start to appear on the host's skin. Under a hand lens bird mites are oblong and are about 1mm long. The grey-brown adult may appear reddish after it has had a blood meal.

 

Bird mites are generally associated with moist or humid conditions and are most active during spring and early summer. Bird mites are naturally found where birds (such as pigeons, starlings, sparrows and poultry) and their nests are located. Humans can be exposed to bird mites when young birds leave their nests and the mite is left without a suitable host to feed from. They may move into living spaces in houses, climbing on walls, ceilings and bedding in search of a blood meal.

 

 

Bird Mites can cause severe irritation including itching, swelling and raised reddish spots on the skin caused by mites injecting saliva when feeding.

cause discomfort 

may result in secordary infections from scratching.

are not associated with transmission of any infectious disease

are often diffictult to diagnose and can be mistaken for the bites of other insects.