Bird Mite (or Rodent Mite)

Found in bird nests (e.g., under eaves, attics) or rodent nests; they often enter homes when their host dies or leaves the nest.

Obligate blood-feeders. They primarily feed on the blood of birds or rodents but will bite humans if their primary host is unavailable.

Highly mobile and active during the night. They exhibit a 'searching' behavior when their host is gone, often congregating around windowsills, beds, or ceilings.

Risks: Their bites cause intense itching, redness, and dermatitis in humans. While they cannot sustain a population on human blood alone, they are a nuisance pest. Benefits: None to humans; they are parasites.