Bird Mite
Scientific Name: Dermanyssus gallinae or Ornithonyssus sylviarum
Order & Family: Order: Mesostigmata; Family: Dermanyssidae or Macronyssidae
Size: 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm (extremely small, barely visible to the naked eye).
Natural Habitat
Found in bird nests, poultry houses, and occasionally inside homes near nesting sites (e.g., windowsills, vents, attics).
Diet & Feeding
Obligate blood-feeders. They primarily feed on the blood of birds but will bite humans if their bird hosts are unavailable.
Behavior Patterns
Nymphs and adults are active mostly at night. They can survive for several weeks without a host and often disperse in large numbers after birds leave a nest.
Risks & Benefits
Risks: Their bites can cause severe itching, skin irritation, and dermatitis in humans. They do not live or reproduce on humans. Benefits: None to humans; they are considered household pests and agricultural parasites.
Identified on: 5/22/2026