Bird Mite (or Rodent Mite)
Scientific Name: Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Northern fowl mite) or Dermanyssus gallinae (Chicken mite)
Order & Family: Order: Mesostigmata, Family: Macronyssidae or Dermanyssidae
Size: 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm (barely visible to the naked eye as moving specks)
Natural Habitat
Found in avian nests or rodent burrows; they often enter human living spaces through vents or windows when their hosts leave the nest.
Diet & Feeding
Hematophagous; they feed exclusively on the blood of birds (or rodents) and occasionally bite humans in the absence of their preferred host.
Behavior Patterns
Extremely active crawlers; they are most active at night. Their lifecycle is rapid, often completing in 7–12 days under warm conditions.
Risks & Benefits
Risks: Causes intense itching, dermatitis, and skin irritation in humans (gamasoidosis). They do not thrive on human blood alone and cannot complete their life cycle on humans. Benefits: None.
Identified on: 3/28/2026