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The Basics of Bird Mites Pest Control

a young boy and a young girl siblings playing in the grass and smiling

Common and frequently misunderstood pests are bird mites. Bird mites are tiny arthropods that feed on the blood of birds. These mites can also bite humans and cause irritation and skin problems. In most cases, bird mite pest control is not complicated if experts are called in to deal with the issue. However, before anything can be done, residents must understand a little about the pests.

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What Are Bird Mites? 

That is the first question Escondido area residents need to ask. Bird mites are parasitic insects that feed on the blood of birds. These mites are usually found near nests or roosting areas where they can access their host animals. Bird mites can also bite humans and cause irritation and skin problems.

What Does A Bird Mite Look Like? 

Bird mites look like fleas- small, gray, and round. The mites are only roughly .4 mm to .5 mm in length, have grayish oval bodies, and have eight legs. Even though they are small, they are visible to the naked eye

How Do You Know If You Have Bird Mites?

There are a few signs that can indicate you have a bird mite infestation. First, you may see the mites themselves. They are small and dark and move quickly. You may also notice bites on your skin that are itchy and red. 

Bird Mites On Humans

While bird mite bites are not especially dangerous to humans, they are uncomfortable at best. Bird mites are not known to carry diseases that can be transferred to humans, but their bites create red bites that cause irritations and itching. It’s important to understand that bird mites tend to be more active when their host is inactive. That simply means humans are more likely to be bitten while they’re sleeping, which may create some confusion over the identification of the pest, with some individuals falsely believing they are dealing with bed bugs rather than mites. 

How Do I Get Bird Mites? 

The primary hosts for bird mites are, obviously, birds. However, bird mites can easily move to a new host when necessary. For example, when a bird dies, blood is no longer circulating, meaning the bird mite must find a new host. That host could be an animal feeding on the bird carcass or even a human that picks up the dead bird. 

Chicken Mites

Another type of bird mite is routinely found on chickens, suggesting anyone with chickens take steps to eliminate mites as part of their normal chicken coop hygiene efforts. Infestations have been known to decimate flocks, and anyone coming in contact with the birds is likely to become a host as well. 

How To Get Rid of Bird Mites

Bird mites reproduce rapidly, and identifying and treating infestations quickly is vital. Since the pests are so small, eradication is often difficult, as multiple, thorough treatments are generally required to eliminate them. While smaller infestations may be eradicated with miticides carefully applied to all impacted areas, larger infestations may require fumigation to be effective.

In addition, it’s also important to treat vehicles, suitcases, and other items that would allow transferring the mites to other areas. Since the mites can be dormant for quite some time between feedings, mitigation experts will generally explore a variety of bird mite treatment options with homeowners to ensure all areas are treated to prevent infestations from reoccurring.

Get Professional Bird Mite Pest Control 

Most people are not aware of the threats posed by bird mites and they are not generally aware of the best strategies for mitigating a bird mite infestation. Escondido experts like WedoCreepy.com are fully aware of the threats presented by bird mites and will suggest the best alternatives for controlling them. Discussing the issue with bird mite treatment experts is important not only to the eradication of the existing problem but also the prevention of future infestations. You can get a free quote from our pest control experts today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Bird Mites Get In Human Hair? 

Just like they do with the rest of your skin, bird mites do get in human hair and cause extreme itchiness and discomfort. The feeling is similar to having lice or scabies. If bird mites have infested your hair, you can try thoroughly shampooing, but you might need to be prescribed a topical cream.

Where Do Bird Mites Hide? 

Bird mites can only live for a brief time without a host, so they can only really hide on you, your pets, or other animals. Unlike other bugs that might be hiding in the untouched corners of your home, you will know if you have a bird mite infestation. 

How Long Do Bird Mites Live On Humans? 

Good news- bird mites cannot reproduce with human blood! Bird mites can only live on humans for around 7 days. However, we know that's still 7 days too long.