Bird Mite or Rodent Mite
Scientific Name: Ornithonyssus spp. or Liponyssus spp.
Order & Family: Order Mesostigmata, Family Macronyssidae
Size: 0.5 to 1.0 mm (hardly visible to the naked eye)
Natural Habitat
Found in birds' nests, rodent nests, and occasionally inside homes when hosts leave or nests are nearby.
Diet & Feeding
Blood of host animals (birds or rodents); they may bite humans if their primary host is unavailable.
Behavior Patterns
They are highly mobile, active at night, and tend to congregate in cracks, crevices, or bedding near where humans or host animals sleep.
Risks & Benefits
They can cause intense itching, skin irritation, and dermatitis in humans. While they do not typically transmit diseases to humans, they are a significant nuisance pest.
Identified on: 2/26/2026