Bird Mite
Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Northern fowl mite) or Dermanyssus gallinae (Red poultry mite)
- Order & Family
- Order: Mesostigmata; Family: Macronyssidae or Dermanyssidae
- Size
- Approximately 0.5 to 1.0 mm (hardly visible to the naked eye)
Natural Habitat
Found in bird nests, poultry houses, and occasionally inside homes when birds nest on or near the building
Diet & Feeding
Parasitic blood-feeders; their primary hosts are birds, but they will bite humans and other mammals if their primary hosts leave the nest
Behavior Patterns
Highly active and mobile. They often enter homes through cracks, vents, or windows after birds migrate or leave a nest. They cannot complete their life cycle on human blood but can survive for several weeks without a bird host
Risks & Benefits
Risks: Their bites cause intense itching, skin irritation, and dermatitis in humans. They do not typically transmit diseases to humans but are a significant pest and source of stress. Benefits: None to the ecosystem; considered a nuisance pest.