Knowledgebase

Bird Mite Infestation #857566

Asked January 19, 2024, 7:40 PM EST

Hello, our home has been infested with bird mites from a bird nest under our deck. We have been dealing with this situation since November. Despite our efforts to remedy this independently, with professional heat treatment and pest extermination, the mites are still here. The nest has been removed, and the carpet and all furniture have been thrown out. Some clothing has been discarded; others are washed and dried in high temperatures and heat. The vents have also been cleaned. We moved out twice with hopes of debugging while treatments took place and to get some relief, but upon our return, the mites are still here. We are on our 8th extermination from 4 different companies, and we are just now seeing fewer bites, but the mites are still here. Some are red, some are black, and some are brown. We’ve done a significant amount of research and sought professional pest control recommendations, and now we seek help from wildlife specialists and entomologists like you who can help us. Here are some pictures. We are moving out again soon to debug, but we don’t know what else to do. This has become quite expensive, and we have lost almost everything. Please advise. Thank you.

Prince George's County Maryland

Expert Response

We do not see any insects or mites in the photos, though it's hard to tell what the objects are since the images are not in clear focus. Bird mites are extremely unlikely this time of year. They do not survive long once the bird hosts are gone (see the link for more information), plus the measures you have already taken would have resolved any insect or mite outbreak. If you are developing skin irritation symptoms, we recommend you work with a doctor to uncover the cause. A surprising number of unrelated factors can be misinterpreted for insect/mite issues, particularly during the drier air of winter. Experienced pest control professionals should either have access to entomology specialists or their own lab to ID insects or mites needing microscopic examination. Other harmless insects, like springtails, might be common indoors around areas with leaking moisture or poorly-sealed gaps and cracks in exterior walls, for examples.

Miri

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