Community identification
Bird Lice (Mallophaga) or Mites
Mallophaga (Order) or Dermanyssus gallinae
- Order & Family
- Order: Psocodea (Lice) or Mesostigmata (Mites)
- Size
- Hard to see; usually 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm.
Natural Habitat
Found on birds, in bird nests, or indoors near vents and windows where birds nest.
Diet & Feeding
Depending on the species, they feed on bird feathers, skin fragments, or bird blood.
Behavior Patterns
They are ectoparasites that usually stay on their host but will crawl onto humans if the bird host is gone.
Risks & Benefits
They can cause itchy skin irritation or 'bites' in humans, though they cannot survive long or reproduce on human blood. They are pests and offer no ecosystem benefits in a domestic setting.