What's Biting Me? Top Ten Mites that Bother Humans

Below you will find a list of the top ten mites that can become a nuisance to humans. Some love to bite, while others simply cause allergic reactions. Some can't survive indoors, while others spread through homes like wildfire. If you're having trouble identifying your target pest or deciding upon an appropriate treatment plan, call (734-) 782-5205. Our consultations are always free. In the meantime, keep scrolling to check out our innovative tricks for collecting samples and getting clear pictures with a cheap microscope. Identification is important, as home treatment plans may vary depending upon what kind of mite you're battling.

Bird Mites

By Daktaridudu - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=50501685

Bird Mites: These disease spreading, family uprooting, marriage-destroying bastards are straight from the bowels of hell. They generally get into homes via nests lodged in chimneys, gutters, attics and tree branches that touch windows. Fourteen years' worth of callers have told me that bird mites can infest scalps, enter ears, hang out inside noses and attack genitalia. Worse yet, they tend to develop a bizarre attachment to one person in the house before finding their way to others. That ensures mom will be called crazy until dad begins to feel the sensations himself. By the time all family members get around to experiencing attacks, the problem has often blown out of control. If you're stuck in a battle to prove your case to doctors or family members, skip down to our section on trapping live samples and seeking DNA testing. In many cases, a simple swab of a skin lesion is enough to identify your attacker via the DNA it left behind. Size and Appearance: An adult bird mite is about the size of the period at the end of this sentence, but it can swell after feeding. Bird mites are clear or translucent when they haven't eaten. After a blood meal, they can be various shades of red. Once their food has started to digest, they may turn black or grayish in color.  Treatment:  Spray carpets, couches and bedding with Dr. Ben's Evictor. Clean floors with bleach or saturate a mop with Dr. Ben's. It won't fade or strip wood floors like bleach can. Use our fog machine to help pest controlling fluids settle upon walls and coat ceilings. Many mites listed on this page won't require fogging, but bird mites tend to spread all over the house. In addition to congregating inside couches or air ducts, they may be found climbing up walls or dispersing across ceilings. Fogging helps pest control fluids settle upon surfaces that traditional spray techniques won't reach. For a step-by-step guide to battling bird mites, visit our home treatment checklist and laundry handling page. Leave no stone unturned, as bird mites tend to be the most chronic on this list of mites that can bother humans. It's not uncommon for callers to tell me they've hired multiple pest control operators, ripped out carpeting, thrown away furniture and moved more than once. The length of time it takes to get rid of a bird mite infestation can be affected by species. The Northern Fowl Mite (Ornithonyssus Sylvarum) can only live a few weeks without feeding. Chicken mites (Dermanyssus gallinae) are said to live up to nine months without a blood meal. That means you may experience bites many months after you thought the infestation was over. It also means you can re-infest a home when opening old bags of untreated laundry that were put in storage when the infestation began. If you're currently packing for a move, consult our page on How to Avoid Transferring Mites to a New Home. ​

Rodent Mites

Rodent mites look just like bird mites, but they tend to be less chronic. These mites generally emerge from hidden areas when rodents die from the poisons that were used to eradicate them. Rodent mites can also be brought home from motels, resale shops or infested work environments. While chicken mites are said to live nine months without a blood meal, a rodent mite is said to live only a few weeks without feeding. That means you won't get attacked by hidden mites many months after you thought the infestation was over. Treatment: Spray carpets, couches and beds with Dr. Ben's Evictor. Mop floors with bleach or saturate a mop with Dr. Ben's. It won't fade or strip your wood floors like bleach can. Use our fog machine to help pest controlling fluids settle upon walls and coat ceilings. For a step-by-step guide to battling rodent mites, visit our home treatment checklist and laundry handling page. Outdoor Treatment: If there's a rodent problem connected to the foundation of your home, spread our cedar granules around the base of the home. The granules recharge each time it rains, delivering a fresh blast of cedar infused liquid to the soil or grass. It's a great way to control the parasites that animals leave behind, but you must also work toward eliminating the rodent population as a whole. I favor the use of traps because poisons cause rodents to die in hidden locations. Their rotting carcasses can feed all types of insect problems from maggots to cockroaches and beyond. 

Springtails (Collembola)

U. Burkhardt, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Springtails: Springtails are not mites, nor are they classified as parasites. These normally harmless soil dwellers feed upon mold, fungus and decaying plant material in the ground. Many doctors and entomologists insist that springtails cannot bite or infest humans, but Morgellons researchers maintain that mold loving organisms can become attracted to individuals with specific medical conditions. These conditions may include Mycotoxicosis (mold poisoning), Candidiasis (systemic yeast/fungus overgrowth), Lyme Disease and various co-infections that can accompany Lyme. Testing: If you're convinced that springtails are attracted to you, get a cheap point-and-shoot microscope to prove your case. Seek DNA testing from websites such as VetDna.com. In many cases, a simple swab of a skin lesion is enough to identify your attacker via the DNA it left behind. Get tested for Mycotoxicosis, Candidiasis, Lyme disease and common co-infections that accompany Lyme, especially Bartonella (Cat Scratch Fever) and Babesiosis (a disease caused by microscopic parasites that infect blood cells). Lay off the springtail talk at the doctor's office if you don't have clear pictures of the organism itself. Pictures of fuzz balls, tiny crystals and pepper like flakes don't carry much weight in medical offices. Above all, don't cry or express anger toward your physician for not understanding what's happening to you. That's a good way to get sent home with a prescription for psych meds. For the best treatment possible, stay calm and get a referral to an infectious disease specialist. Indoor Treatment: Politics aside, there's no dispute that springtails can invade homes in massive numbers and travel across floors, beds, couches, walls, bathtubs, counter tops, cabinets and more. You're not necessarily crazy if you're  a little freaked out by the presence of ultra tiny jumping specks in your environment. Spray carpets, couches, beds and skin with Dr. Ben's Evictor. Clean floors with bleach or saturate a mop with Dr. Ben's. It won't fade or strip floors like bleach can. Use our fog machine to help the product settle upon walls, coat ceilings and penetrate unseen crevices. For a step-by-step guide to battling springtails, visit our home treatment checklist and laundry handling page. Outdoor Treatment: Springtail problems are often connected to excessive leaf litter, new landscaping materials, septic tanks, flooding or mold issues around the foundation of homes. Dry conditions may also force Springtails out of the soil in search of moisture. Begin by raking leaf litter and grass clippings left behind by your lawn mower. Saturate the yard with our Nature's Defender Concentrate and spread  cedar granules around the base of the home. The granules recharge each time it rains, delivering a fresh blast of cedar infused liquid to the soil or grass.

Dust Mites

CSIRO, CC BY 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Dust Mites: Rest assured that these microscopic mites are not responsible for the crawling or biting sensations that may be keeping you awake at night. Dust mites do not bite humans or pets. They feed upon pet dander and skin flakes that humans shed naturally. When dust mite waste becomes airborne, it can cause allergic reactions such as sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, itchy hives, asthma and various breathing difficulties. If you're allergic to dust mite waste, a UV air filter can make all the difference in the world. Such filters use UV light to kill contaminants that are drawn into the unit. ​A fogging protocol is not necessary. Simply spray carpets, couches and bedding with Dr. Ben's Evictor. Vacuuming is not enough, as dust mites are known for their ability to cling to carpet and bedding fibers. 

Demodex Mites

No machine-readable author provided. Blauerauerhahn~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Demodex Mites: Demodex mites are normal skin residents in virtually all mammal species. For the most part, these microscopic organisms live in hair follicles and don't cross from pets to humans or vice versa. In rare cases, humans can be sensitive to dog Demodex mites (Demodex canis or Demodex ingal) or cat Demodex mites (Demodex cati and Demodex gatoi).  Fogging is not necessary, as Demodex mites can't live apart from hosts for more than a few days, depending upon room temperature and humidity. Most humans have their own demodex mites (Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis). When demodex populations grow out of control, it can cause hair loss, acne, rosacea and blepharitis.  Blepharitis is a common eye condition that can cause crusty eyelashes or make eyelids red, swollen and itchy. The Demodex mite can cause blepharitis by carrying streptococci and staphylococci bacteria to the eye area. Size:  Demodex mites are extremely tiny (0.15 millimeters [mm]–0.4 mm). It would take several of them to cover a pin head. Demodex mites can only be seen at a magnification of 40X or higher. Treatment: To treat Demodex mites in the scalp, saturate your hair and scalp with Dr. Ben's Evictor. Apply a shower cap, and leave the solution in place for an hour. To treat the face, dab a bit of the Evictor onto your fingertips or apply with a cotton ball. You cannot treat eyes or eyelashes with Dr. Ben's Evictor, but you can dab a bit on eyebrows with a cotton ball. Ask your dermatologist for steroid eye drops or use a Q-tip to apply castor oil along your upper lash line. 

Scabies Mites

Kalumet, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Scabies Mites: This microscopic, burrowing mite causes intense itching and pimple like (papular) rashes. Rashes may affect much of the body or be limited to common sites such as between the fingers. Skin Treatment: Scabies rashes generally respond well to doctor's protocols involving topical permethrin and oral ivermectin, but immune compromised individuals may experience prolonged suffering. If you've stopped responding to permethrin, visit our skin page to find do-it-yourself skin recipes contributed by animal rescue enthusiasts with veterinary backgrounds. Home treatments mixed with sulfur powder are quite powerful, but don't begin a new regimen without discussing the plan with your doctor, as different people have different sensitivities. Home Treatment: Spray carpets, beds and couches with Dr. Ben's Evictor. Fogging is not necessary, as scabies mites don't travel far from the host. Use bleach to disinfect white laundry and borax to disinfect colored laundry. Special laundry practices are outlined on our laundry page. Good News: As horrifying as this mite may be, it's not the kind of mite that forces people to remove carpet, discard infected furniture, sell property and start fresh with few belongings. In other words, don't throw anything away. If you suspect an item such as a shoe has become infested, you can spray treat it or store it in a ziplock bag long enough for the mites to die off. 

Grain Mites

Joel Mills, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons​

Grain Mites (Also Known as Mold Mites and Straw Itch Mites): These common parasites of insects tend to infest stored flour, corn meal, cereal, rice, dried beans, peas, straw and hay. They can also infest moldy bathrooms, moldy basements, humid sink cabinets and clogged dishwasher filters. Various online sources state that grain mites don't bite humans because they only prey upon insects. Scholarly articles paint a different picture. "Human infestation occurs only accidentally and temporally." (See source.) In my experience dealing with thousands of mite victims over a 14-year time span, I can tell you that grain mites are known to attack barn keepers and hay handlers. It's a devastating situation for horse and livestock owners, as the hay fed to animals is quite expensive, and it can't be sprayed with chemicals. Treatment: Grain mite infestations associated with pantry staples tend to resolve quickly when infected foods are discarded and pantry surfaces are cleaned with Dr. Ben's Evictor. Get in the habit of storing new food in plastic canisters with air tight lids. Grain mite cases connected to mold are more complicated, as the infestation can spread behind walls and under flooring. It may be necessary to locate and remove mold before fogging with Dr. Ben's Evictor. Our product kills mold as well as mites. ​

Cheyletiella Mites

By Joelmills - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2564637

Cheyletiella Mites: The cheyletiella mite is a contagious skin parasite most commonly associated with dogs, cats, rabbits and squirrels. It can also spread to humans and other animals living in shared spaces. This mite is sometimes called the walking dandruff mite due to the appearance of white flakes that move along with the mite. Daily skin treatment will be necessary, as the cheyletiella mite can get down into the superficial keratin layer of human skin and stay for extended periods. Unlike scabies mites, cheyletiella mites don't complete their entire life cycle on the host. Indoor Treatment: Spray skin, bedding, carpets, pets and furniture with Dr. Ben's Evictor. Use pet gates to quarantine infected animals to an isolated area of the home, such as a garage or spare bedroom. Avoid sleeping or cuddling with pets for the duration of treatment. If pets wander out of the quarantined area, be sure to spray any spaces where they've lingered or relaxed. Outdoor Treatment: If your pets haven't visited boarding kennels recently, it's most likely they picked up the cheyletiella mite while playing in the yard. Spray outdoor play areas with our Nature's Defender Concentrate, especially if you live on a wooded lot populated with rabbits and squirrels. One quart makes eight gallons of solution.​

Chiggers

HouserBill at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Chiggers are tiny mites that live outdoors in grassy or wooded areas near water. They can be red, orange or yellow in color. The larval stage of the mite is the only parasitic stage. Adults do not bite. They thrive in warm temperatures, especially during humid periods in the summer. If chiggers get into your home by accident, they won't survive long. Fogging is not necessary,  but you may want to spray skin and bedding during the short duration of their reign. Treatment: Before going out to work in a chigger infested environment, spray clothing and exposed skin with Dr. Ben's Evictor. The organic formula is both a killer and a repellent. If you suspect chiggers have gotten into your home via infected clothing, spray couches, carpets and beds. Outdoor Treatment: If chiggers have become a problem in your yard, use our Nature's Defender Concentrate to spray grassy areas, bushes and ornamental trees surrounding your home. One quart makes eight gallons of solution. For long term prevention, surround the base of each bush and tree with our heartwood cedar granules. 

Oak Mites

USDA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Oak Mites: Oak mites are microscopic insects that live in oak trees and feed upon small midget fly larvae.The oak mite bite can create red welts that are sometimes misdiagnosed as chigger bites. The good news is that you don't have to fumigate the house or drag your mattress to the curb. Oak mites can't survive without the bug larvae they feed upon. If they accidentally get into your home via trees located near windows, they won't live long. Personal Treatment: If oak mites have become a problem on your property, it helps to spray clothing and skin with Dr. Ben's Evictor before going out to do yard work. This organic product is both a killer and repellent. When working in heavily infested yards, wear a hat sprayed with a good repellent or buy a plastic shower cap. Yard Treatment: Spraying trees won't do much good, as these mites are protected within oak galls (unsightly brown balls that grow from branches or look like hanging fruit). It's best to prune out gall-infected branches and twigs with a small saw or pruning shears. Start a bonfire to burn the infested branches or enclose them in thick contractor bags. 

Tricks for trapping and photographing better mite samples

A cheap, point-and-shoot microscope can be more useful than a laboratory microscope.

It's difficult to catch mites and get them onto a slide for identification. Get a point-and-shoot microscope to capture images of your skin and study debris found on couches and beds. When you feel a biting or crawling sensation, simply point the microscope at the target area. For expert identification, visit websites such as VetDna.com and follow the protocols for submitting samples. Modern technology is amazing! A simple swab of the affected area is often all it takes to identify the type of parasite that's bothering you. ​

Place an air bed within a border of double sided tape.

• Vacuum an area large enough to accommodate a comfortable air bed.
• Using double sided tape, make a large rectangle around the vacuumed area. 
• ​Place an air bed inside the the border of tape. 
• Relax, read a book or go to sleep. Mites that try to approach your bed will be stopped by the tape. Some will avoid the ring of protection. Others may attempt to cross the barrier and get stuck on the tape. 
• I've been telling my clients to do this for 14 years! In the beginning, the technique was just proposed as a way to keep bedbugs and mites from reaching folks who were forced to sleep on the floor because they had thrown away their infested beds. Imagine my surprise when clients began catching mites on the tape. Even if you're not lucky enough to catch a live sample, a mite free sleeping space is priceless!
• Beware that bird and rodent mites can also assault from above. They can crawl up walls, scurry across ceilings and drop down on to hosts. To prevent this scenario, apply double sided tape around the perimeter of the room where the wall meets the ceiling. To reach mites that may be lingering on walls and ceilings, fog the room with Dr. Ben's Evictor.

Try this trick to get mite samples from the scalp.

Although biting mites can attack just about anywhere, we get more calls about infested scalps than any other area of the body.

• Cover your hands with plastic gloves to avoid getting mites under your nails during this test.
• Place a sheet of plain paper or tissue paper in a dry bathroom sink. Don't use a terrycloth hand towel, as the ridges in the fabric will capture and hide debris. 
• Flip your dry head over the sink. Scratch your scalp vigorously for one minute, as if you're washing your hair. Do you see debris falling onto the paper? How about white crystals or dark flakes that look like pepper? Excess dandruff can be a sign of the cheyletiella mite, but other mites can create debris as well. For example, bird mites can molt and leave cast skins behind. The presence of debris is not enough to confirm or identify a mite! 
• Take a picture of the debris with a point-and-shoot microscope. Do any of the specs have clear, identifiable parts such as legs or antennae? 
• ​Transfer your paper to a large plastic container with a lid. Take a picture of the arrangement. Cover the container with a snap tight lid, and come back several hours later. Have any of the specks moved?
• ​Repeat this procedure with a darker piece of paper. White debris will show up better on dark paper. Dark debris will show up better on light colored paper. Some mites change colors, depending on what they've eaten. For example, bird mites are white or transparent. After a blood meal, they can be red, brown or deep reddish brown.

More ways to collect mite samples from your environment:

• Place glue boards inside sink cabinets, near radiators, under beds and behind couches. If you discover tiny specks on the glue boards, study them with a microscope or jeweler's loupe to determine if the specks have shapes. 
• Collect lint from couches and bedding. Mites can wrap themselves in fibers, but don't get all excited over the discovery of fuzz balls. The bits and pieces you collect could easily be plain old fabric. Unless you see a bug with an actual SHAPE, it can't be ruled a positive sighting.  
• ​Transfer the particles to a plastic container with a lid. Take a picture of the arrangement. Cover the container with a snap tight lid, and come back several hours later. Have any of the specks moved?
• Use a point-and-shoot microscope to look for tiny hairs on couches and beds. Mite bodies are covered with short, bristly fibers that are used for sensory perception. These fibers can detach to make way for new growths. When there are enough mites living in a closed space, the concentration of hair in the air can cause skin irritation and respiratory reactions.
• Collect salt and pepper like particles from beds and couches. These are not necessarily dead mites. They could be cast skins or waste. Transfer the particles to a plastic container with a lid. Take a picture of the arrangement. Cover the container with a snap tight lid, and come back several hours later. Have any of the specks moved?
• The next time you feel a crawling or stinging sensation, gently apply a piece of clear tape to the corresponding patch of skin. Be sure not to press very hard because mites are difficult to identify when smashed. ​​

Try a heated flea trap to attract mites

Bird mites are heat seekers. When the summer months pass and the ground in your home turns cold, they look for places to stay warm. You may even find them nesting near radiators and heat vents! 

Choose a home and body spray that's both a killer and a repellent. ​

• Many pesticide sprays are merely contact killers. They don't "prevent" mites from getting into the bed or crawling across your skin. Their only power lies in killing mites that may already be lingering on floors and beds. 
• Dr. Ben's Evictor kills mites on contact and leaves behind a fresh cedar scent that repels bugs after it dries. Residual scents help to discourage traffic and nesting in sprayed spaces. It's a great way to keep mites from crossing back into your sleep space after you're already sprayed the bed.​
• Dr. Ben's Evictor is  100% organic. You can use it to treat skin, hair, dogs, couches, beds, carpets and more.

​Advanced or chronic mite cases may require fogging with Dr. Ben's Evictor.

Bird mites and springtails don't just move across beds, couches and floors. They can be EVERYWHERE, including walls and ceilings. A fog machine will help pest controlling mist settle upon walls, ceilings and other surfaces that traditional spray techniques can't reach. ​

Complete List of Articles on this Site:

​Home Treatment Checklist - 20 Things You Must Do if You Have Mites
What's Biting Me? Top Ten Mites that Can Irritate Humans - How to Identify Your Mite - Get a Formal Diagnosis
10 Ways to Get Mites Out of Skin - DIY Skin Recipes and Bathtime Rituals
Common Co-Infections Linked to Parasite Infestation and What to Do About Them 
​How to Talk to Your Doctor About Mites
​How to Collect Mite Samples for Identification
​Ten Ways to Deal with the Psychological Stress of a Mite Infestation
How to Get Mites Out of Ears, Eyes, Noses and Genitals 
Prescriptions for Treating Mites in the Urinary Tract
Top 12 Oral Supplements Commonly Used to Battle Parasites
​20 Ways to Trap Mites -Glue Boards Aren't Enough
How to Get Mites Out of Cars
How to Get Mites Out of Couch Crevices
How to Get Mites Out of Carpeting
How to Get Springtails and Mold Mites Out of Dishwashers
​Ten Rules to Avoid Transferring Mites when You Move to a New Home
The Importance of Choosing Clothing and Bedding Made of Synthetic Materials
​The Advantages of Treating with UV Light
How to Treat and Store Mite Infested Documents​
​How to Treat Infested Cell Phones and Computers
10 Organic Ways to Kill Lawn and Garden Pests