Bird mite / Rodent mite
Scientific Name: 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)
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.
Identified on: 4/12/2026