Types of Indoor Biting Mites

Mites are classified as tiny arthropods and closely related to ticks; they are a common household pest that can find their way into food storage, within walls and even onto pets. Mites vary biologically and feed on a diverse range of organisms. Most mites are harmless predators who feed on other insects and decaying vegetation; however, some are known for their parasitic behavior upon humans and other animals. Mites become a nuisance when they enter homes in large numbers, often causing severe skin irritation. There are consequently many types of indoor mites, each with different behaviors and physiological advantages.

Clover Mites

• Mites are a close relative to the common tick.

  Clover mites often invade homes in the thousands, causing severe disruption among residents. Being only 0.85 millimeters long, clover mites are a reddish-brown color and can easily crawl into houses through small cracks around windows and doors. These mites mainly enter houses when their main plant food sources disappear, which consists of clover, ivy, grasses and fruit trees. Clover mites are the most active during the fall, and prefer to seek shelter during the winters to lay their eggs. Fortunately, clover mites do not cause health-related problems.

Bird Mites

• Bird mites normally infest birds, but are also known to bite humans when its original host dies. Predominantly as blood feeders, bird mites attack birds during the night and rest during the day. Individuals who handle infested birds may generate an itchy reaction to the mites; however, bird mites do not prefer to remain on humans for a long time. Houses most vulnerable to bird mite invasion are those with bird nests inside chimneys and rafters. The best ways to eliminate these pests include vacuuming or using an aerosol insecticide.

Chigger Mites

• One of the major mite species that primarily attack humans are chigger mites. Only the larval stage bites and infests human skin. Chigger larvae are reddish in color and appear to be barely visible. Upon anchoring onto skin, they inject specialized saliva and digest the liquefied skin. If not detected, chigger mites can remain on the skin for many days, causing inflammation and itchiness. Locations with layers of straw, thatch and thickets provide the best habitat for chigger mites. Pesticides have become the common way for eliminating chigger mite populations.

Scabies Mites

• Scabies mites are also known to attack and infest human populations. As a parasitic species, scabies mites are host-specific and attack mainly domestic animals and humans. These mites often burrow into human skin and lay eggs, feeding on both the skin and skin secretions. Outside of the host body, scabies mites can only remain alive for a few days. Scabies, a contagious skin infection, is often seen within individuals bitten by the scabies mite. Proper treatment against scabies mites includes using an insecticide prescription lotion and proper future sanitation protocols.