Bird Mites: Where They Are Found, A DIY Step By Step Guide


I was treating a customer home the other day and she showed me these little black dots that looked like moving pepper from a pepper shaker, they were all over the top of her toilet seat and up by the fan in the bathroom. I said you have bird mites. A bird flew in through the exhaust vent of the house and made its nest near the fan.

So, where are bird mites most commonly found and how do I treat them? Bird Mites need a host to survive they are mostly found in bird nests. Bird Mites thrive in humid conditions around the world and are more active when the birds start to migrate because of the warm spring climate. Bird mites come out more often at night due to a birds nesting schedule. The best way to treat them is by removing bird nests and treating them with a fast acting spray or aerosol.

Many people will just call an exterminator to get rid of this problem. To do this cheaper and just have the knowledge to deal with this issue, I will tell you where you most commonly find bird mites in your home and I will give you a step by step guide that you can use to treat them yourself.

Where Are Bird Mites Most Commonly Found?

Bird mites have a particular way they eat and since they require a host to live they will be close to where birds will roost.  

Bird mites can only complete their life cycle if they are mating and eating in regular intervals within the proximity of a bird. Without a host, bird mites will only last up to 3 weeks with no meal plan. This is why they are found near a birds nest.

Once the young birds leave the nest the bird mites are left with no host and they will quickly search for other food sources nearby.

Though bird mites need to live near a bird to complete their life-cycle they are able to survive on the blood of other “hosts” to prolong that from happening. Some examples of this are rodents, people, and other arthropods.

Bird mites can be brought into your home a myriad of ways

  • Attic Openings
  • Dryer Vents
  • Bathroom Ventilation Vents
  • Chimney
  • Air Ducts

So even though they are brought in by the birds they can make their way into your home and infest it quickly.

These little guys are pesky and cause irritation they are not known to carry or transmit any infectious diseases.

People can also be a victim of bird mites. If a bird dies and there is no host they will be out on the hunt for blood. Which reminds me of another place you can find them in your home, bedrooms.

Another fact about these pests is that they will thrive in places that have high humidity usually between 70%-90%.

There are reports of these parasitic arthropods around the globe and they can usually be found on these main bird types:

How do I Prevent Bird Mites?

A natural way to help with the control of bird mites is to remove the moisture from your home, a dehumidifier can help with that.

Another way is to remove all bird nests off and away from your home as soon as they are started.

An Integrated way to keep bird mites out of your home would be to seal off all the vents from the outside of your home, make sure that the attic vents and gable vents are sealed as well to keep birds from nesting in them and bringing those problems with them.

You can use chicken wire and a staple gun inside gable vents to seal it off (be careful in the attic area especially if you are balancing on joists to do this). There are also dryer vent guards you can get from the big box stores that will keep birds and their mites from making their way into those areas.

Also to keep birds and their mites from getting in your home you can put up some birds nest deterrent spikes in areas that birds have nested in on your home in the past i.e. porch overhangs, under decking, ledges, and high window sills, etc.

If spikes aren’t enough there are electronic sound boxes, netting, plastic owls, and rubber snakes have been some decent DIY tricks to help keep birds away.

Silicone around all pipes, exhaust vents, and cracks to ensure proper sealing of your home.

Remember that preventing birds from nesting on or around your home is the best way to make sure you won’t get bird mites.

How Do I Treat For Bird Mites?

Nest Removal

The most important thing is to get rid of the bird mites nesting source which is a birds nest somewhere near, on, or in your home. This step in the process gets rid of most of the problem.

Next, you will need to make it uncomfortable for the bird mites to live in your home.

Integrated Management

If you use a dehumidifier: Making the air in your home as dry as possible will create a climate that isn’t conducive for them to live in. Your air conditioning unit will also be your best friend, like I mentioned, in the beginning, the bird mites like a warm moist environment, so making it cold and dry will be a really good way to help get rid of bird mites.

Vacuum your home daily while still infested. You will need to empty the bag or vacuum canister out after each use. You will also want to not just empty the vacuum finding in your kitchen trash can. Seal them in a bag and take them out of the home.

Mop your floors. You will want to use soapy water and a mop that has cotton, microfiber, or a wool head on it. Sponge mops, flat head mops, dry mops,  and swiffers won’t cut it here. So, just like vacuuming you will want to do this daily during infestations as well.

After the nests are removed and you have made the proper adjustments to the climate, sealing, and cleaning of your home you can now treat all the areas of infestation with a chemical to eradicate them properly.

Chemical Treatment

Now that we have done everything else that we can do to get rid of bird mites the final thing that we need to do is to treat infested areas to stop them from biting.

When I go into a bird mite job as a pest professional I want to accomplish 2 things: I want to meet the customer’s personal needs so I assess this first. 2nd I get rid of the problem as quickly as possible. The quickest way is using a flushing agent (or bomb) like CB-80. This is my go-to only if it meets the customer’s personal needs. If this isn’t an option I do the 2nd option which I named practical treatment. I use 2 chemical sprays Sterifab and Onslaught. I also use a bellows or bulb duster with CimeXa to accomplish this treatment. The results usually are met in 3-4 days. The 3rd option I go with is the complete eco-friendly treatment. This treatment will take several applications to work and because I am in the business of getting results quickly, this is my least favorite, however, there are many people out there that will have it no other way. I do understand their want to be kind to the environment so I give them this option with the patience disclaimer.

Eco-Friendly-  The eco-friendly chemical I like to use is called Eco Via EC. When a customer requests that we use a product like this we let them know that this may take many applications to get rid of the problem, but that the treatment does work. Always read the label so that you will know the application rate to mix with water in a spray can.

Here are the instructions for the eco-friendly service.

  • Mix the chemical in a 1-gallon spray can (read the label to see the dilution rate).
  • Put on a paper mask just for safety purposes
  • Always wear gloves
  • Spray the floor molding area to create a barrier around the inside foundation
  • Spray around air vents not in them but around them to get a good barrier there
  • Again keep the air dry and cool to help this treatment work

Practical Treatment-  This treatment involves 2 liquid chemicals and silica dust. To get rid of bird mites in a mear 4-6 days this is the least invasive most practical treatment method you can use in your home.

Here are the instructions for the practical service.

  • Turn off all fans, diffusers, and dehumidifiers.
  • You should wear a paper mask for this service.
  • With a one gallon spray can fill it with water to dilute the onslaught. You can put in 1 fl. oz. per gallon of water. Once mixed close the lid and shake vigorously to mix it properly. Spray all baseboard areas in a crack and crevice treatment. Make sure to read the label, most chemicals will have different application techniques for different pest treatments.
  • With the steri-fab sprayer take this and spray down all upholstered furniture and beds.
  • CimeXa Dust this is not an actual chemical. This is silica dust. With a bellows duster or bulb-duster fill the duster halfway and put the top back on. Once the onslaught is dry you will want to apply this under the lip of all the baseboards, also you will want to remove all your electrical sockets for light switches and plugins and just behind the electrical in there. Keep in mind that wherever you put this dust that it will be there after that time for good. So make sure you don’t use it in an undesired location.

Bug Bomb-  Using a bomb, or flushing agent requires some precision and care.

Here are the instructions for this service:

Please read and follow not only this instruction but the instructions of all pest labels that you will be using.

  • Turn The Air Conditioning System to OFF.
  • Turn off all fans, diffusers, and dehumidifiers, etc.
  • Put on a respirator and make sure it fits snug (do not use a paper mask, it is not the same).
  • Protect all fresh produce, and perishable goods don’t leave it out.
  • Move all pet food and water and place it in an area that will not be treated.
  • When using a flushing agent start at the furthest point from your exit and walk backward working your way to the door. You will want to spray above your head. If there is a straw on the can this can be used in wall voids and hard to reach crevices where the infestation is occurring. Do not spray this directly on to food prep areas. Just mist it in the air or use the straw in the voids.
  • Once you have made it outside you need to stay out for 4 hrs.
  • When you return you can open the windows to air out the home.

Do Not Do This Treatment If you have birds or fish that will be returning into the home in under 24 hours.

Also, all these treatments require protective gear to protect your body while you are treating your home.

PPE or Personal Protective Equipment

Here is a list so you will know what protective gear you will need for each service.

Eco- Friendly and Practical Treatment

  1. Paper Mask
  2. Safety Glasses
  3. Gloves
  4. Long Sleeve Shirt
  5. Long Pants
  6. Chemical Resistant Shoes

Bug Bomb Treatment:

  1. Respirator
  2. Safety Glasses
  3. Gloves
  4. Long Sleeve Shirt
  5. Long Pants
  6. Chemical Resistant Shoes

Summary

If you have birds nesting in your home and you are experiencing a biting sensation, it is likely that you have bird mites in your home. So this is it the complete guide on how to treat them. Pick your poison. Whatever treatment you decide to use please make sure you read the labels of the products that you are using and air on the side of caution as this is a poison you are using to treat your home. If you have any questions feel free to leave a reply below.

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