Bird mites?
Question:I live on the third floor and have a deck- below the deck is a nest with about 5 cute and adorable robin chicks (that my cat loves to torment!) They've been there for about two weeks now and during the past two to three days I've noticed that if I so much as touch the deck for more then a second my hand is covered in little brownish/ black mites. They are no larger then a pin head and move very rapidly and I want them gone ever so much! First: what are they and can they hurt me or my cat? and Second: I'm guessing that spraying for these mites could hurt the chicks and would rather deal with the mites untill my "deck-guests" have flown off into the sunset- am I right? HELP!!!
Answers:
First off, mites can transmitt pathogens including psittacosis so try and not let them bite you or your cats.
Mites are usually specific to the host type so in other words, a bird mite will only latch on to a bird and sometimes they are even species specific.
However they do not know what host they are on until they have taken a bite first. If they have the wrong host, they drop off but that can still cause a transmission of pathogens.
I would use a mite killer spray just try and sheild the birds from a direct spray.
Birds are very sensitive to chemicals so I think you are right to wait before conducting chemical warfare on bugs.
Those bird mites or bird lice as I've heard them referred to, can really be awful. There are a lot of them in a nest of birds, and if they have the opportunity they will get into your house. They will crawl all over your walls and you and make you want to itch.
You'll wind up having to bomb your house with flee or fly bomb to get rid of the mess.
I would spray or wash the deck above the nest with insecticidal soap and when the babies leave, get rid of the nest. Don't let another nest be built in the same spot or you'll have a new infestation.
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