Community identification
Bird mite
Ornithonyssus sylviarum / Dermanyssus gallinae
- Order & Family
- Order: Mesostigmata; Family: Macronyssidae / Dermanyssidae
- Size
- 0.5 mm to 1 mm (barely visible to the naked eye)
Natural Habitat
Nests of wild or domestic birds, often migrating into homes when birds leave the nest
Diet & Feeding
Blood from avian hosts; will opportunistically bite humans if birds are unavailable
Behavior Patterns
Active primarily at night; they are extremely mobile and can quickly infest structures near bird nesting sites
Risks & Benefits
Cause intense itching, skin irritation, and dermatitis in humans; do not transmit diseases to humans but are significant household pests