Bird Mite
Scientific Name: Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Northern Fowl Mite) or Dermanyssus gallinae (Red Poultry Mite)
Order & Family: Order: Mesostigmata, Family: Macronyssidae/Dermanyssidae
Size: 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm (barely visible to the naked eye, appearing like moving specks of dust).
Natural Habitat
Bird nests, poultry houses, and occasionally indoor cracks and crevices near windows or vents where birds nest.
Diet & Feeding
Required host is bird blood, but they will bite humans and other mammals if their primary bird host is unavailable.
Behavior Patterns
They are highly active and phototactic, often migrating into homes in large numbers after birds leave a nearby nest. They cannot survive long-term or reproduce on human blood.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include intense itching, skin irritation, and dermatitis from bites. They do not transmit human diseases but can cause significant emotional distress and secondary skin infections from scratching.
Identified on: 4/30/2026