Bird Mite or Rodent Mite
Scientific Name: Ornithonyssus sylviarum / Ornithonyssus bacoti
Order & Family: Order: Mesostigmata, Family: Macronyssidae
Size: Extremely small, approx 0.5 - 1.0 mm (size of a pinpoint)
Natural Habitat
Nests of birds or rodents, often migrating indoors when the host abandons the nest.
Diet & Feeding
Blood of vertebrate hosts (birds, rodents, and occasionally humans)
Behavior Patterns
Active seekers that crawl in search of a host; they often appear in large numbers and are most active at night.
Risks & Benefits
Risk: Causes intense itching and dermatitis (Gamasoidosis) in humans though they cannot complete their life cycle on human blood. Benefit: None for humans; they are parasitic pests.
Identified on: 1/4/2026