Biting Mites: Tropical Rat Mite or Tropical Fowl Mite???

bugman

June 17th, 2011 at 8:31 pm

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Biting us!!!!
Location: Sacramento, CA
June 17, 2011 6:31 pm
We live in Sacramento, CA. We have a 9 month old sweet boy. We have all been getting bitten at night for a couple of weeks. This morning, we noticed maybe 20 or 30 of these little bugs on a white pillow, and on us. Were positive these guys are biting us. Upon a thorough search of the bedroom, under bed, under and on mattress, we have found NOTHING??!!?
Signature: Please respond asap.

Biting MIte

You have some species of Biting Mites. Often Bird Mites and Rat Mites enter the home if they have been living in the nest of a host in the attic. Once the host leaves the nest, the Mites will enter the home to seek a blood meal. You may see additional information on our site at this posting from our archives. There is also a very informative dialog on this BugGuide posting.

Thank you so much!!! We have been in a “full blown, flipped out panic” all day, in fear of possible bedbugs. I tried to research rat mites, but found no similar photos. The photos you provided match exactly. Their size is about 1 mm. Certainly not the 2 to 5 mm that bedbugs are said to be. And ironically reassuring is the fact that last year, we discovered a roof rat infestation in our air conditioning ducts. I personally removed and replaced all the duct work, sealed up the attic, and hired a pest company to monitor the problem with traps. There has been no sign or the rats for 7 months, but I’m sure the mites can remain in nesting material for a while.
If you would, humor us with a reassurance that these aren’t bedbugs, and if you have any tips for repellent or eradication we welcome them.
Once again-THANK YOU
Dean, Naz, and Zande

Dear Dean, Naz and Zande,
Be reassured they are not Bed Bugs. Mites can be difficult to eradicate, but knowing that you had a rat problem that has been eliminated should eventually lead to the decline in the Mite population.