If you're getting itchy bites at home or at work and you've noticed tiny, fast-moving specks on walls, ceilings, windowsills or bedding, the likely cause is bird mites. They come from a bird's nest close by, usually in the roof, gutter, eaves or behind a sign or aircon unit. The mites feed on the birds, and when the chicks fledge or the nest is abandoned, they go looking for another host and find you. Treating the people's rooms alone doesn't work. The nest has to be found and dealt with.
Where bird mites come from in Kariega
Kariega's industrial buildings are full of good nesting spots for birds. Pigeons settle on the steel beams inside warehouses and factory roof spaces, on ledges, behind signage and under loading bay canopies. Sparrows and other small birds nest in gaps in the roof sheeting, in gutters and in the tops of downpipes. Many office blocks attached to factories have false ceilings, and mites coming down from a nest above can end up in the offices below.
At home, older roofs with gaps at the eaves, broken ridge tiles and fascias pulled away give birds a way into the roof space. Nests in gutters, behind shutters and on top of aircon units against the wall are also common.
How to tell it's bird mites
- Tiny specks, smaller than a pinhead, moving quickly on walls, ceilings or furniture, often near a window, light or vent
- Itchy bites, sometimes without any visible insect
- Activity near the ceiling or the side of the house where birds have been nesting
- Birds that were nesting recently and have now gone quiet
Sticky tape pressed onto a windowsill where you've seen them catches a sample. A photo of that tape on WhatsApp helps us confirm what it is.
How we deal with them
- Find the nest. We inspect the roof space, eaves, gutters and the areas around where mites are being seen. In a factory or warehouse, we look at beams, ledges and roof voids above affected areas.
- Treat the nest. The nest and the area around it are treated directly to kill the mites at their source.
- Remove the nest where it's safe and appropriate.
- Treat the affected rooms with a product suitable for indoor use, focusing on where the mites are coming in: ceilings, light fittings, window frames, vents and bedroom furniture.
- Proof the gap or advise on bird proofing, so the birds can't move back in and start the cycle again.
You don't need to move out. Allow treated surfaces to dry before children or pets use them again.
Bird mites at work
When several people in a factory office or production area start reporting bites at the same time, bird mites from a nest in the roof are a common cause. The longer it goes on, the more frustrating it gets for staff. We can inspect and treat after hours, and give recommendations on bird proofing for the building, such as mesh, netting or closing gaps in roof sheeting.
A Kariega tip
Look up at the outside of your house or building in spring, when birds start nesting. Watch for birds flying in and out of gaps at the eaves, under the roof sheeting, into the top of a downpipe or behind an aircon unit. Closing those gaps after the nesting season, or before birds settle, prevents a mite problem before it starts.
What people often get wrong
Removing an active nest themselves and leaving it at that. Pulling a nest out disturbs the mites and spreads them into the roof and rooms below, and without treating the area, the bites get worse for a while. Also, don't mistake bird mites for bed bugs or fleas and treat the wrong thing; the source is different.
What does it cost?
It depends on where the nest is and how easy it is to reach, how many nests there are, how far the mites have spread and whether bird proofing is needed. A single nest at the eaves of a house is straightforward. Nests on high beams in a factory or above a false ceiling take more time and access equipment. We'll quote once we've seen it.
Not sure it's mites? Our page on biting insects in Kariega helps you narrow it down, and our Kariega pest control page covers the rest. The bird mite guide explains their life cycle. We also treat bird mites around Port Elizabeth and bird mite problems in Despatch.
Call 087 012 5550, or WhatsApp us a photo of the mites or the nest and we'll help you work out what's going on.
Questions we get asked
Can bird mites live on humans?
No. They bite people, but can't complete their life cycle on us. Once the nest is treated and removed, they die off.
Why did the bites start after the birds left?
When chicks fledge or a nest is abandoned, the mites lose their food source and go looking for a new host.
Do I need to get rid of the birds?
You need to deal with the nest and stop birds nesting in that spot again. Bird proofing usually solves it.
Can you treat bird mites in a factory or warehouse?
Yes. We inspect beams, roof spaces and ledges, treat the nests and affected areas, and can work after hours.
How long until the bites stop?
Usually within days to a couple of weeks after the nest is treated, depending on how far the mites have spread.
Are bird mites the same as bed bugs?
No. Bird mites are much smaller and come from bird nests. Bed bugs live in beds and furniture. The treatments are different.