Facts: Bird Mites
Name: Macronyssidae (family), Dermanyssidae (family.
Appearance: Bird mites are less than 1mm in length and are almost transparent in color. They turn a brownish-red color after collecting a blood meal. Their bodies are typically an oval shape and covered in short hairs.
Habit: Bird mites are often found in homes where birds frequently visit or nest. They can be brought in-doors on peoples clothing, pets, or just by wandering in on their own. They are capable of moving quickly for their size and are known to infest homes rapidly due to their frequent breeding. Bird mites will often stay with one particular host for as long as possible, only migrating after the host has died or a nest site has become unusable and the birds populating the area have travelled in search of a new nesting site. When this happens, thousands of mites may travel in search of a new host, often moving in-doors to find a blood meal. Bird mites cannot survive for longer than 10 days without finding a food source. They are most active at night, and on humid or overcast days.
Health/Damage Concerns: Due to their very small size and nearly transparent color, a bird mite infestation may go unnoticed until a large infestation has occurred. Populations are known to grow quickly, and bites from bird mites can cause irritated welts that last much longer than the mosquito bites for which they are commonly mistaken.
Diet: Blood from birds and other animals.
Reproduction: Bird mites reproduce at an alarmingly quick rate. Females generally make up to 90% of a bird mite population, and infestations can reach into the thousands if mites have a suitable host and the proper environment to survive in. Bird mites cannot complete their lifecycle on a human host, and will often perish if no other avian host is found. Once a host bird’s nest area is eradicated, problems with mites soon disappear.
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