If you're being bitten at night and have recently had birds nesting in or on your Montana roof, bird mites are a strong possibility. The fix is to treat the nest site and remove the nest, then treat the rooms where mites have come in. Treating the bedroom alone won't solve it if the source is still in the roof.
What bird mites are
Bird mites are tiny parasites, barely visible to the naked eye, that live in bird nests and feed on the birds' blood. They're common in the nests of pigeons, mynas, sparrows and starlings. While the birds are around, the mites stay put. When the chicks fledge, or a nest is abandoned or removed, the mites lose their food source and go looking for a new one. That's when they move through gaps in the ceiling, light fittings and air vents into the house and start biting people.
They can't survive and breed on people for long, but while they're looking for a host, the bites can be very uncomfortable.
Why Montana homes get bird mites
Many newer Montana homes have features that birds love. Gaps under roof tiles where the fascia doesn't seal, the space beneath solar panels, gutters, eaves and covered patios all give pigeons and mynas sheltered places to nest. Solar panels are a particular favourite, and plenty of Montana roofs now carry them. Open veld and gardens nearby give birds plenty of food, so nesting pressure is high, especially in spring and summer.
A sign we often hear: someone has had pigeons cleared from the roof or under the panels, and a week or two later the bites start. That's exactly the moment the mites leave the nest.
Signs it's bird mites
- Itchy bites, often at night, sometimes with a crawling sensation on the skin
- Tiny moving specks on walls, ceilings, window sills or bedding, sometimes looking like dust that moves
- Bites concentrated in rooms below where birds nested
- Recent bird activity in the roof, eaves or under solar panels
Bird mite bites can be confused with other bites. If there's no bird activity near the house, read our page on biting insects in Montana or look into bed bugs in Montana as possible causes.
How we treat bird mites
We start by finding the nest site, which may be in the roof void, under tiles, in gutters or under the panels. The nest and nesting material are treated and removed. Then we treat the area around the nest site and the rooms where mites have come through, including light fittings, skirting, window frames and the edges of ceilings, with a targeted residual treatment. Once the source is gone and the treatment is down, the mites die off quickly. We'll also show you where birds are getting in, so you can have those gaps closed and stop them nesting again.
There's no need to move out while we work. Little ones and animals should keep away from the treated rooms until surfaces have dried.
What people get wrong
Having the nest removed and assuming the problem is solved. Removing the nest without treating it is actually what triggers the mites to move into the house. The second mistake is treating the bedroom over and over with shop sprays while the source in the roof is still active.
A Montana tip
If you have solar panels, look at the space underneath from the ground with binoculars every few months. If you see pigeons going in and out, deal with it early. Mesh guards around the edge of the panels, fitted by your installer or a bird-proofing specialist, stop birds nesting there and remove one of the most common bird mite sources in newer Pretoria homes.
What does bird mite treatment cost?
It depends on how many nest sites there are, how easy they are to reach and how many rooms need treating. A single nest in an accessible roof space is a straightforward job. Multiple nests under solar panels on a double-storey roof takes more work. Bird mites rarely go away on their own while a nest is active, so this is one where DIY doesn't usually work.
We also treat bird mites in Lynnwood, and our full service is described on bird mite control across Pretoria. The rest of what we treat in the suburb is on our Montana pest control page.
SAPCA registered, with 25 years of experience, we stand behind bird mite work with a 3-month guarantee. If the mites come back in that time, we return. Call 012 012 5526, or WhatsApp us a photo of the nest area or the bites.
Questions we get asked
Can bird mites live on people?
Not for long. They need bird blood to breed, so they bite people while searching for a host but die off once the source is treated.
Why did the bites start after the pigeons were removed?
Removing the birds or nest takes away the mites' food, so they leave the nest and move into the house looking for a new host.
Are bird mites dangerous?
They're not known to spread disease to people, but the bites can be very itchy and uncomfortable.
How quickly will the bites stop?
Once the nest is treated and removed and the rooms are treated, most homes see bites stop within days.
Do pigeons under solar panels cause bird mites?
They can. Nests under panels are one of the most common sources of bird mites in newer homes.