Q: Why are these bird mites so hard to get rid of in the home?

A: A home invasion often involves several thousand mites when a bird's nest has been recently vacated. Mites are very small but very tenacious. These are parasites which have evolved over millions of years, and are very adaptable to a changing environment. Since they need a host mammal to survive, they will do whatever it takes to ensure future generations. One research article documents how D. Gallinae can actually revert to an earlier morphological state in order to not be rejected by the host mammal's immune system.

Q: Why are these mites so hard to see, I can feel them crawling and biting, but don't see them?

A: A mature bird mite is only about .5 mm or less, and the immature mite is even smaller. Many people state that they are not very easy to see without magnification.

Q: How can I tell which type of bird mite it is?

A: The only way to get a positive ID is to have an entomologist (acarologist) view them under a microscope. Short of that, there are a couple of differences that some may find helpful. If the mite is very tiny and whitish and occasionally seen as red, then it most likely is D. Gallinae. If seen as blackish, it would more likely be O. Sylvarium, O. Bursa, or O. Bacoti. This family of mites tend to be a bit larger and darker than D. Gallinae.

Q: Why am I the only one bothered by them in our home?

A: It is not well understood how these mites select a host, but they are very tenacious and often content with parasitizing one individual in the home. This could possibly be due to the pheromones they use to communicate with others, as they tend to swarm the host mammal and crawl or bite in large numbers.

Q: I don't get many bites, just a lot of crawling on the skin and around my mouth and nose, especially at night. Is this typical?

A: Many report that the mites crawling on the skin at night is the worst aspect to this affliction. The immature mite does NOT need blood, and so will not bite readily. It is thought that the slow crawling on the skin is due to the immature mites. This is also why they are so difficult to see without magnification. Once the mites are invading the mouth, ears, etc., they could very well be getting their blood meal internally and there would be no need for them to penetrate the skin in order to feed. Consequently, very few bites.

Q: Will others I come in contact with be bothered by these mites?

A: There are some who have reported others where eventually infested by being in contact with the infested person. The level of intimacy among people may also be a determining factor. However, there is no way of knowing who will or won't have problems from these mites. What is predictable is that if the infestation in the home cannot effectively be dealt with, bird mites will eventually infest the automobile, work environment and other places where people spend much of their time.

Q: What are some of the symptoms of an internal mite problem?

A: Some with a prolonged bird mite infestation in the home eventually have problems with the mites becoming internal for at least part of their life cycle. Some symptoms include: a productive cough with white phlegm in the morning, itching ears and eyes, sneezing and coughing when the mites are in the nose/mouth, and men may wake up with painful erections in the night when the mites are in the urethra. Long-term effects include joint aches, mental fatigue, lose of weight, and other symptoms both subtle and obvious. Some symptoms may be directly related to the mites and their toxins and other symptoms may be related to dealing with stress for a long time; which can affect the person¡¯s immune system.

Q: Which chemicals (miticides) seem to work the best?

A: We know what does not work; and this includes Pyrethrin and Permithrin, and many of the other 'thrins', especially at the low level of active ingredient in most over-the-counter bug sprays. Bayer's Beta-Cyfluthrin is one of the more effective chemicals available. Using a variety of chemicals is often more effective than relying on one specific chemical for a long period of time. For home fumigation, some have had success with Vikane gas, when used at a 10x concentration. But others have stated this was not effective, either from a low level of chemicals used by the PCO, or possibly due to application errors. Non-toxic cedar oil products have also been used successfully by some with a bird mite infestation.

Q: Why don't we see them on the glue boards that the PCO placed in the home?

A: Bird mites are very small and normally opaque and so these will not be readily seen on glue boards. And mites would normally not be attracted to glue boards. They tend to hide during the day and congregate near the host mammal at night. You may have better luck using a hot pan of water in a darkened room, as detailed on the 'strategies' webpage.

Q: Will changing my diet, or taking supplements help with this?

A: The short answer is probably not. We do know that mite populations tend to be higher on mammals with a weakened immune system, so it can be helpful to maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle. But there are no reports of 'cures' just from taking garlic, or other herbs, etc. Although some have reported a decrease in symptoms with these and other sulfur products. Also, some have noted that parasites tend to thrive in a high carb/sugar environment, and cutting back on these processed foods may help some. The intestinal cleanses that claim to help, are meant for those with intestinal (GI) parasites. Bird and rodent mites do not strictly live in that environment and these cleanses would probably be of little benefit.

Q: Why aren't doctors and dermatologists more aware of this affliction?

A: Unfortunately, 'ectoparasites' are not part of their education and training. Except for the scabies mite, very little is known by the medical profession regarding skin parasites and human parasitosis. It is a specialist, called a 'parasitologist', who best understands the interaction of mites and mammals. And they normally study them in relation to animals not humans. Researchers who do study human parasitosis are few and far between.

Q: Isn't there something more that can be done?

A: Many of us have been asking this question for a long time. There are many things that can be done on a daily basis, as listed on the 'strategies' webpage, but there are no simple answers. It is just a lot of hard work!!! As we gain a better knowledge and understanding of parasites and their behavior, then we can find more effective treatment options. And as we find things that are successful and then share this knowledge with others, the easier this will be for all of us who deal with this.

Q: Is this just a recent phenomenon, or have bird and rodent mites plagued humans for a long time?

A: There is not a lot of older medical literature regarding mites affecting humans, except for the scabies mite. However, some who had symptoms of unidentifiable rashes and itching may have been dealing with a mite affliction. For example, people with poor hygiene were often labeled as having 'cooties', as they would often itch and have rashes from unidentified bug bites, and this could very well have been from mites. The symptoms often were attributed to fleas, lice, etc.; and there is no way of knowing if some of these were actually mites, either bird mites or rodent mites. As our research and knowledge improves, so will our understanding of human parasitosis.

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