Bird Mite
Scientific Name: Ornithonyssus sylviarum or Dermanyssus gallinae
Order & Family: Order: Mesostigmata; Family: Macronyssidae or Dermanyssidae
Size: 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm (extremely small, often appearing as tiny moving specks)
Natural Habitat
Found near bird nests, poultry houses, and inside homes if nests are on buildings; often found on skin, clothing, or bedding.
Diet & Feeding
Blood of avian hosts (birds); will bite humans if their primary host is unavailable.
Behavior Patterns
They are semi-permanent parasites that feed at night and hide in crevices during the day. They are highly mobile and can migrate from abandoned bird nests into human dwellings.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include skin irritation, intense itching (pruritus), and dermatitis from bites. While they cannot complete their life cycle on human blood, they can cause significant discomfort and stress in an infested home.
Identified on: 1/1/2026