Bird Mites

What are Bird Mites?

Are you wondering where did you get all those bites on your body from? Amidst several other insects, there can be one that is the reason behind this; it is none other than a bird mite. There is a high possibility that a bird mite can live on your body. Today, we are going to talk about this annoying little pest that you may or may not know about. Learn the ways you can finally deal with them with our effective remedies.

How do bird mites look like?

There are several names by which you can call a bird mite. Tropical fowl mites and starling mites are some names that it is popularly referred as. They belong to the arthropod group and are very easily confused with other pets. More than often they go by the name bird lice.

If you spot bird mites, it will certainly be during the months of spring or early summer. They are a parasite that lives on the body of birds, but they don’t hesitate to bite mammals as well as humans. A bird mite is hard to spot as they are very small. It has four pairs of legs. Three pairs are found on the sternal plate. The body of the bird mite is narrow towards the posterior end.

Where does a bird mite live?

These are nocturnal creatures that stay hidden in their burrows during the day. They love to reside in the nests that birds build. Bird mites that infest home are found mostly on furniture and bedding material. During the night they will bite, and daytime is for hiding and reproducing. They love to reside and lay eggs in fabrics as well as cottons because it acts as an insulating material and helps them stay safe and protected.

Bird mites are distributed all over the world. They are found in different parts of Africa, Central America, Asia, West Indies, South America, Islands of the Pacific, Islands of the Indian Ocean, Australia, and North America.

What do bird mites eat?

These parasites or pests are found everywhere a bird is, especially poultry, starlings, and sparrows. They also live on humans and suck their blood. Their bites can be the reason behind serious skin irritation and allergies.

Are bird mites harmful?

It is true that the primary food source of a bird mite is birds, but they will attack humans every chance they get and suck on their blood. This problem starts arising when a bird builds its nest near your house. Once the eggs hatch and the birds fly away from their nests, the bird mites enter homes in search for their food.

The entry of bird mites into your home is not that difficult. The size of a bird mite is its biggest strength. Because they are so small that it gets really hard to see them. Pests and humans both are its targets inside a home. They don’t spread serious diseases, but their bites can cause irritation, inflammation, and other skin related problems. Itching, irritation, and redness can be caused because of them.

Signs of Bird mites Infestation

People who have a bird’s nest nearby or those who live in apartments with pigeons around have a high chance of bird mites’ infestation.

Used furniture, carpets, and clothing have a high chance of bird mites in them. Farmers with chicken or people who stay in hotels also have a chance of accidentally coming across bird mites. The detection of bird mites is near to impossible, which makes them very hard for you to see. You can only understand they are in your body or feeding on your blood by their bites.

Their bites are capable of causing itchiness and red lesions. This takes a lot of time to heal.

If you see no mosquitoes around and you have a pet, then be sure your house is infested by bird mites.

You experience a lot of discomfort when you sleep. This is because bird mites are active during the night.

You can feel something moving on your skin. Bird mites with their eight legs crawl on your body and suck your blood.

High humidity is another reason that bird mites enter your home. If you possess a lot of upholstered furniture, carpets, and other material that can be the breeding ground for bird mites. Then be sure they will visit you.

Bird Mites Pictures

Collection of pictures of bird mites:

How to get rid of the bird mites?

Now that you know about bird mites you obviously want to get rid of them. These blood-sucking, invisible little monsters can ruin your life and sleep. If you experience a bird mite infestation, it is time that you control it. Here, are a few ways how you are going to do that.

Use insecticides

This is the best method that you can opt for to kill all the bird mites. You can easily get insecticides that are sold in the market. They can be used outside as well as inside your house. The powerful insecticides will kill the bird mites and prevent their future entry into your home.

Find and remove any nests around your house

First of all, start by locating the birds’ nest that is the reason behind the entry of the bird mites in your home. While removing a nest and relocating it, make sure you wear gloves and mask. You can find a bird’s nest in chimneys, roof spaces, wall cavities, basements, foundations, window ledges, and porches.

Don’t allow birds to settle around your house

Repair your broken tiles, openings on roofs, and clean your chimneys. Birds carry these mites with them.

You need to clean your house more often

Nothing beats cleanliness. The more you clean, the chances of bird infestation will reduce. Vacuum your curtains, rugs, and furniture more often. While removing the garbage inside the vacuum bag, wear gloves and masks. Make sure you take a lot of precaution while removing the bird mites.

Freeze your clothes

Bird Mites love to reproduce in a soft and comfortable environment. This includes your clothes, bed sheets, and blankets. Wash everything in boiling water and a powerful detergent. Once that is done, place your clothes and everything else in zip lock bags and freeze them. All these steps will be enough to deal with the bird mites.

The use of orange oil or limonene

The peel of citrus fruit can deal with the lice, mites, fleas, and ticks. Create your own spray by using lemon peels and some water. All you need to do is add the lemon rinds in the water. Now, go ahead and strain the liquid and place it in a spraying can.

Try the use of a repellent

A strong repellent will be enough to shoo the bird mites. Make sure that the repellent consists of diethyl meta toluamide or DEET. Several repellents can be used on your clothing and bedding. They are completely odorless and safe. Read the label well before you buy.

Cedar Oil’s effectiveness

Amidst several effective remedies, Cedar Oil, in particular, can kill every insect, pest, and parasite. It can deal with the problems of bird mites like no one. Spray your whole house (yes, every bit of it) with Cedar Oil Fogger. Make sure you are not in the house for the next few hours. Wear gloves and masks at all times.

There are some other useful ways to deal with this problem.

• Neem Oil can kill up to 95% of the bird mites.
• Scatter boric acid in your home. This will take care of the bird mites infestation.
• Eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint, lemongrass, and cedar wood are some important ways of dealing with the bird mites.

Now, you know the reason behind your bites and itchiness. Stay away from bird mites with the help of the following ways.