Bug Identifier
Bird Mite
Community identification

Bird Mite

Ornithonyssus sylviarum or Dermanyssus gallinae

Order & Family
Order: Mesostigmata; Family: Macronyssidae or Dermanyssidae
Size
Approximately 0.5 to 1.0 mm (barely visible to the naked eye, appearing like moving dust or specks).
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Found in bird nests (pigeons, starlings, sparrows) and poultry houses; they migrate indoors when bird hosts leave the nest.

Diet & Feeding

Blood of birds (primary) and occasionally humans or other mammals if birds are unavailable.

Behavior Patterns

They are semi-permanent parasites that feed at night and hide in cracks or nesting material during the day. They have a rapid life cycle of about 7-12 days.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Can cause intense itching, skin irritation, and dermatitis in humans. They do not live or reproduce on humans but can bite. Benefits: None to humans or the ecosystem.