Bird Mite or Rodent Mite
Scientific Name: Ornithonyssus spp. or Dermanyssus spp.
Order & Family: Order Mesostigmata, Family Macronyssidae or Dermanyssidae
Size: Hardly visible to the naked eye, roughly 0.5 to 1.0 mm.
Natural Habitat
Typically found in bird nests (eaves, chimneys) or rodent nests; can migrate into homes when hosts leave.
Diet & Feeding
Blood-feeding parasites that primarily feed on birds (like pigeons or starlings) or rodents (mice and rats).
Behavior Patterns
They are highly mobile and phototactic, often seeking hosts at night. When their primary host is gone, they crawl through vents and cracks to find new blood sources.
Risks & Benefits
While they cannot survive long or reproduce on human blood, they cause intense itching, skin irritation, and dermatitis through their bites. They do not typically transmit diseases to humans.
Identified on: 5/2/2026