Bird mites in a Newton Park home or business come from a bird nest, almost always in the roof, under the eaves, in a gutter or on a ledge near a window. To stop them, the nest has to be found and treated, the mites that have spread indoors need a targeted treatment, and the gap the birds used has to be closed. Treat only the bedroom, and they keep coming.
What bird mites are
Bird mites are tiny, barely visible specks, smaller than a full stop, pale or reddish depending on whether they've fed. They live on birds and in their nests. While the nest is active, you probably won't notice them. When the chicks fledge, or the nest is abandoned, the mites lose their food source and start wandering in search of a new host.
They bite people, causing itchy red spots and a crawling feeling on the skin, but they can't survive and breed on humans. That means once the nest is dealt with, they die off.
Why Newton Park roofs attract nesting birds
Older homes in Newton Park have roofs that have taken years of Port Elizabeth wind. Tiles lift, gaps open at the eaves, and fascia boards come loose. Pigeons, mynas and sparrows find their way into those spaces and build nests above the ceiling, in the gutter, or tucked behind the fascia.
Commercial buildings along the main roads give birds plenty of options too: ledges, signage, air conditioning units, awnings and gaps in roofing above shops and offices. Mites from a nest above a shop or office can make their way down through ceiling gaps, light fittings and air vents into the workspace.
Signs it's bird mites
- Itching and small bites, often at night, without any visible insect
- Tiny moving specks on walls, windowsills, ceilings or bedding, especially near a window or below the roof
- Birds that were nesting in the roof or eaves recently leaving
- Bites that are worse in one room, often the one closest to the nest
Bird mite bites are easily confused with bed bug or flea bites. If you're not sure, see bed bugs in Newton Park for the differences, or send us a photo of the specks on a piece of clear tape.
How we treat bird mites
- Find the nest. We inspect the roof space, eaves, gutters and the outside of the building near where the bites are happening.
- Treat the nest. The nest is treated directly to kill the mites living in it, then removed and disposed of.
- Treat the affected rooms. A targeted, odourless, non-staining residual treatment around windows, skirting, light fittings, bed frames and other areas where mites have spread.
- Close the gap. We show you where the birds got in and what's needed to stop them returning, whether that's re-bedding a tile, closing a gap at the eaves or fitting mesh.
You can stay at home during treatment, as long as children and pets stay off treated surfaces until they've dried.
A mistake that makes it worse
Removing the nest yourself without treating it. Pulling a nest out of the roof scatters mites into the ceiling and down into the rooms below. The other mistake is treating the bedroom over and over with bed bug spray while the nest stays in the roof, so the mites keep arriving.
Also, never remove a nest that still has eggs or chicks in it. Wait until the birds have left, then treat and remove it.
A local tip
If you hear birds in your roof in spring, make a note of where they're getting in. Once they've finished nesting and left, that's the moment to have the nest treated and the gap closed, before the mites start wandering. A little planning saves a lot of itching later.
What does it cost?
The main factors are how easy the nest is to reach, how many nests there are and how far the mites have spread inside. A single nest under an accessible eave is a smaller job than several nests deep in the roof space of an older house, or above a shop ceiling. Proofing work, if needed, is extra and may be done by a builder. We'll quote after the inspection.
Learn more in our bird mite guide, or see bird mite control across Port Elizabeth. We also handle bird mites in Walmer homes, and you'll find other local services on the Newton Park pest control page.
Call 087 012 5550, or WhatsApp us a photo of the specks, or of the gap where birds have been getting in.
Questions we get asked
What are the tiny biting specks on my walls?
If birds have recently nested in your roof or eaves, they're probably bird mites looking for a new host after the birds left.
Can bird mites live in my bed?
They can wander into bedding and bite you there, but they can't breed on people. Once the nest is treated, they die off.
Should I remove the bird nest myself?
It's better not to. Removing an untreated nest scatters mites into the house. The nest should be treated first, and never removed while it has eggs or chicks.
Why are the bites worse in one room?
That room is usually closest to the nest. Mites come down through ceiling gaps, light fittings and windows nearest to where the birds were.
Do you treat bird mites in offices and shops?
Yes. Nests above shops and offices are common, and we treat both the nest and the work area below.