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
Bird nests, poultry houses, and occasionally residential buildings near nesting sites.
Diet & Feeding
Blood of avian hosts (birds); they may bite humans if the bird host is unavailable.
Behavior Patterns
They are highly mobile, active during the night, and reproduce rapidly in warm, humid conditions near nesting birds.
Risks & Benefits
They can cause intense itching, skin irritation, and dermatitis in humans. They do not live or reproduce on humans, but are a nuisance. They provide no ecosystem benefits in domestic settings.