Community identification
Bird Mite
Ornithonyssus sylviarum / Dermanyssus gallinae
- Order & Family
- Order Mesostigmata, Family Macronyssidae / Dermanyssidae
- Size
- 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm (extremely small, barely visible to the naked eye)
Natural Habitat
Bird nests, poultry houses, and occasionally residential homes via vents, windows, or attics.
Diet & Feeding
Strictly hematophagous; they feed on the blood of birds and occasionally bite humans when bird hosts are unavailable.
Behavior Patterns
They are highly mobile, nocturnal hunters that leave nests when the host birds (like pigeons or swallows) fledge or die. They can survive for several weeks without a meal.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include intense itching, skin irritation, and dermatitis in humans. They do not generally transmit diseases to humans but can cause significant stress. There are no ecological benefits to humans.