Bug Identifier
Bird mite / Rodent mite
Community identification

Bird mite / Rodent mite

Dermanyssus gallinae / 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 as a moving speck)
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Typically found in bird nests (eagles, pigeons, sparrows) or rodent burrows; occasionally enters homes via vents, attics, or window sills after hosts leave.

Diet & Feeding

Hematophagous (blood-feeders); they primarily feed on the blood of avian or rodent hosts but will bite humans if their primary host is unavailable.

Behavior Patterns

They are highly mobile and phototactic, often wandering from abandoned nests into living spaces. They are most active at night and can survive for several weeks without a meal.

Risks & Benefits

They do not live or reproduce on humans, but their bites cause intense itching, red welts, and irritation (dermatitis). They are considered household pests with no known ecological benefits in a domestic setting.