Mites are a diverse group of arachnids, closely related to spiders and scorpions. There are many types of mites namely dust mites, bed mites, house mites, scabies mites, spider mites, clover mites, bird mites and harvest mites. Bird mites usually affect the birds and are generally found in the exteriors but in the absence of bird hosts, they can find their way into your home and affect your family. Termite control, therefore, is important to be carried out inside and outside homes to ensure these termites do not infest and affect your pets and family.
Bird mites are the pests that live in wild and domestic birds. They usually stay in the bird’s nests. If a bird dies or leaves the nest, the mites seek other hosts, including humans. Even though the bird mites cannot reproduce using human hosts and do not pass diseases by their bites, they can cause severe irritation for which sometimes the treatments may take months. Bird mites can also be transferred from outside birds to your pet birds and other pet animals. Keep a check on these pets for any signs of scratching and loss of feathers. These are some tips to get rid of bird mites:
- Remove any empty nests and dead birds around home.
- Vacuum all rooms of the house including furniture and upholstery. Freeze the vacuum bag to ensure that the mites are dead. Once frozen fasten in a plastic bag and throw it away.
- Use disinfectants and insecticides regularly and wipe away all surfaces using paper towels. Dispose of these towels in a sealed plastic bag.
- Bird mite infections must be treated immediately after suspecting. Since these infections can be confused with other insect infections, correct diagnosis and treatment is important. Usually daily bathing with the use of Epsom salts is suggested along with a prescription of anti-itch medication.
Bird mites are very tiny creatures and cannot be easily seen with the naked eye. Inspection companies use a number of techniques and equipment to correctly identify their presence in the house and take appropriate and thorough eradication measures. They will generally use tenting and fumigation for this purpose. Another process is to fog the home. This involves the use of chemicals to kill the mites.
A proper inspection is essential for controlling bird mites. When the termite damage has been exposed, conduct pest inspections immediately. With the help of well executed termite control plans, huge losses can be prevented.
