Bird mite
Scientific Name: Ornithonyssus sylviarum/Dermanyssus gallinae
Order & Family: Order: Mesostigmata; Family: Macronyssidae/Dermanyssidae
Size: 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm (very small, similar to a speck of pepper).
Natural Habitat
Found in bird nests, poultry houses, and inside homes near window sills or vents if nests are abandoned nearby.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate blood-feeders, primarily consuming blood from avian hosts.
Behavior Patterns
They are highly mobile and active at night. When their bird hosts leave a nest, they migrate into homes searching for a new host.
Risks & Benefits
They do not live on humans but can bite, causing itching, red bumps, and irritation. They are considered pests and do not provide ecosystem benefits in a domestic setting.
Identified on: 3/14/2026