Bird Lice & Rashes

Bird lice, biting insects of the order Mallophaga, do not pierce the skin and suck blood as lice of other animals do. Rather, they eat feathers and are never found living on mammals. Bird mites, of the order Macronyssidae, are often called bird lice. Bird lice blamed for rashes on humans are actually bird mites.

  1. Bird Mites

    • Caged birds cannot escape the infestation and take dust baths.

      Bird mites can be responsible for rashes on human beings, as they bite any warm living thing they come across. As they bite, testing to see if the blood is suitable, they inject saliva. Some people react badly to this saliva, resulting in rashes, inflammation and itching. Bird mites are almost invisible to the naked eye and prefer living in bird's nests, where they prey on the fledglings. They reproduce very quickly and infest areas where birds congregate.

    Mites and Humans

    • Bird nests can harbor thousands of mites.

      When the nesting birds leave their nests located in the eaves or attic of a human's dwelling, the mites migrate in search of new hosts. Mites can live for up to three weeks without a host, and although they cannot live on a human, they will bite in passing. Humans who work with fowl are also vulnerable to bites.

    Preventing Bites

    • To prevent mites from entering your house, keep birds from nesting in it or in areas where humans frequent. Cover open eaves and vents with screen to keep birds from entering, and cap chimneys. If you find a nest, remove it and cover the area to prevent rebuilding. Insecticide is effective against mites after a nest has been found and removed.

    Treating the Rashes

    • If you are bitten by bird mites and react with a rash, antihistamine will help the symptoms. Scratching the rash can result in secondary infections, so it is important to prevent this, especially in children. Pets can also be bitten and will appear to have mange, which is caused by mites of a different species.