Mites In The Bay Area: What All Residents Should Know

What are dust mites? Do spider mites bite? Can you see mites? For the answers to these questions and more, here's what Bay Area residents should know about mites, the different types of mites, and what you can do to get rid of a mite infestation in your home. 

What Is A Mite?

As part of the spider family, mites are tiny arthropods with eight legs and pill-shaped bodies. Mites are barely visible to the naked eye, so their small size does make them easy to miss. At first glance, mites may look similar to ticks or bed bugs, but they're even smaller than these pests. 

Depending on the type of mite, their coloring can vary, with most mites being brown, grey, or tan, but a few species have green, blue, and red bodies. 

Do mites bite? That depends on the type of mite. Certain types of mites will bite and feed on humans and animals like parasites, while other mites only prey on dead plants or dead skin. Here are some must-know facts about mites: 

• Mites can reproduce quickly, with some mite species laying more than twenty to thirty eggs per week.
• Even though they reproduce quickly, mites have relatively short lifespans, and most species don't live longer than a month.
• Mites don't make much noise, but they do release a pheromone to communicate with each other.
• Because they are so small and some species even need to be viewed under a microscope, the weight of mites hasn't been evaluated.
• Certain types of mites can be responsible for causing allergies, eczema, or even scabies in people and our pets.

Though tiny, mites are not a pest you want to allow in your home. 

Are There Different Types Of Mites?

Not all mites cause the same problems. The most common kinds of mites you'll find in your home or around your property include: 

• Dust mites: If you see dust swirling around your home, this could actually be dust mites. They feed on dander and dead skin, and when you inhale them, dust mites can cause allergies and asthma attacks. 
• Itch mite: While they also feed on insects, itch mites can sometimes bite humans or animals. You may not see the initial bite, but you'll likely see an itchy, red mark afterward. Itch mites can also cause scabies when they burrow underneath your skin to bite and lay eggs.
• Spider mite: What are spider mites? Spider mites feed on plants and occasionally humans, and if they infest your home, they can kill even your healthiest houseplants. 
• Chiggers: Also called harvest mites, chiggers bite people and leave itchy, red marks behind. 
• Bird mites: Bird mites prefer to use birds as their hosts but may occasionally bite humans. Bird mites don't transmit disease, but their bites can cause itching and scratching. 

Regardless of the type of mite, it's worth taking steps to prevent or eliminate their presence in your Bay Area home. 

What Are The Main Differences Between Each Type Of Mite?

While many of these mites may look similar, the biggest difference is in the way they behave and what dangers they pose to your home. Spider mites may not cause harm to people or pets, but they can attack your houseplants – which makes them more of a nuisance than anything else. 

If you have allergies or asthma, dust mites can be challenging to deal with, but they don't cause scabies or bite the same way that itch mites or harvest mites do. Dust mites are also the most common type of mite to live indoors and frequently settle into sheets, pillowcases, and bedrooms. 

Regardless of the type of mite you have, all mites can cause issues and be difficult to get rid of, especially if you're dealing with an infestation in your home or property. 

How Can I Be Rid Of A Mite Infestation?

Even though they don't live very long, mites reproduce quickly, and you can end up with thousands of them in your home. When it comes to how to get rid of mites, the best way to deal with these critters is by working with the pest control professionals at Bay Pest. 

If you suspect you may have mites or you're dealing with the symptoms of mite bites, it's only going to get worse without treatment. Contact us today at Bay Pest to learn more about how our mite control program works or to schedule an appointment for your Bay Area home.