The short answer to whether red mites can live on humans is no, they cannot establish a permanent presence or complete their life cycle on human skin. The poultry red mite, known scientifically as Dermanyssus gallinae, is a parasitic creature whose natural host is avian, primarily chickens and wild birds. While these mites will temporarily bite and feed on human blood, they cannot reproduce or sustain an infestation using a human host. They are considered accidental or alternative feeders when their preferred source of blood is unavailable.
Defining the Red Mite and Primary Hosts
The red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae, is an ectoparasite that measures about 0.75 to 1 millimeter long as an adult, making it barely visible to the naked eye. Its common name is a bit misleading, as the mite is typically a grayish-white or black color, only turning a distinct reddish-brown after it has recently consumed a blood meal. The mite’s primary hosts are domestic poultry, such as chickens, and wild birds like pigeons, sparrows, and starlings.
The mite is a nocturnal feeder, emerging from its hiding places in cracks and crevices only to feed on its host, usually for a period of less than an hour. They have a rapid life cycle that, under favorable conditions of warmth and high humidity, can be completed in as little as seven days. The mite progresses through five stages—egg, larva, protonymph, deutonymph, and adult—with the protonymph, deutonymph, and adult female stages requiring a blood meal to develop and reproduce.
How Mites Enter Human Environments
Mites typically migrate into human dwellings when their primary avian hosts are removed or die, forcing the parasites to seek alternative sources of blood. This often occurs when a bird’s nest, such as a pigeon or sparrow nest, is built on or near the home, perhaps in a roof void, chimney, or air conditioning unit. Once the young birds leave the nest, the remaining mite population disperses aggressively in search of a new host.
Proximity to backyard chicken coops is another common source, as the mites can migrate from the coop into the house, especially if the infestation in the flock is severe. The mites, which are non-burrowing, can enter homes through tiny structural cracks, vents, windows, or even be carried in on clothing or pets that have been near the infested area. When a massive infestation is present, the mites may be so numerous that they are compelled to find any available source of blood, including humans.
Human Reactions to Mite Bites
When D. gallinae feeds on a human host, the reaction is a condition referred to as gamasoidosis or bird mite dermatitis. The bites usually occur at night, and the resulting lesions are often intensely itchy, non-specific dermatitis. These skin manifestations typically present as erythematous papules, which are small, raised red bumps, or urticaria-like plaques, commonly mistaken for bites from other arthropods or even conditions like scabies.
Crucially, the mites do not burrow into human skin, nor do they lay eggs in the skin or clothing. While they can digest human blood for a temporary meal, they cannot use it to complete their reproductive cycle, meaning they do not establish a breeding population on a person. The symptoms are generally self-limiting once the source of the mites is eliminated, although some individuals may experience a more pronounced allergic reaction.
Eradicating an Infestation
The most effective strategy for eliminating an infestation is a two-pronged approach that focuses on identifying and removing the source, followed by environmental control of the living space. The first and most important step is locating and physically removing the primary host site, such as a bird nest or an infested chicken coop, and treating the immediate area. If the source is a nest, it should only be removed after the young birds have fledged to prevent mass migration of mites into the home.
Once the source is addressed, physical cleaning of the affected home environment is paramount, as the mites hide in cracks and crevices away from the host. A steam cleaner can be highly effective because the heat kills both the mites and their eggs. All bedding, clothing, and washable fabric items that may have come into contact with the mites should be laundered in hot water, preferably at 60 degrees Celsius or higher.
Finally, sealing cracks and gaps in walls, window frames, and baseboards can help prevent any remaining mites from moving through the structure. For severe or persistent infestations, professional pest control may be necessary, as chemical treatments may be required to reach mites hidden deep inside structural voids.