Bird Mite
Scientific Name: Ornithonyssus sylviarum / Dermanyssus gallinae
Order & Family: Order Mesostigmata, Family Macronyssidae or Dermanyssidae
Size: 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm (barely visible to the naked eye)
Natural Habitat
Found in bird nests, poultry houses, and occasionally in homes near bird nesting sites on windowsills or eaves.
Diet & Feeding
Blood of host birds; they can bite humans but cannot survive or reproduce on human blood alone.
Behavior Patterns
Active mainly at night, they remain in the nest or on the host. When birds leave the nest, mites migrate into buildings searching for a new host.
Risks & Benefits
Causes intense itching and skin irritation/dermatitis in humans. They do not transmit diseases to humans but are significant pests in the poultry industry.
Identified on: 1/6/2026