Bird Mite
Scientific Name: Ornithonyssus sylviarum or Dermanyssus gallinae
Order & Family: Order: Mesostigmata; Family: Macronyssidae or Dermanyssidae
Size: 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm (very small, similar to a speck of pepper)
Natural Habitat
Found in wild and domestic bird nests, poultry houses, and indoor environments near nesting sites.
Diet & Feeding
Blood from avian hosts; they may bite humans if their primary host is unavailable.
Behavior Patterns
Active primarily at night; they move quickly and often migrate indoors when bird fledglings leave the nest.
Risks & Benefits
No major ecosystem benefits. Risks include itchy, red skin irritations and secondary infections in humans from scratching, though they do not transmit diseases to humans.
Identified on: 1/2/2026