1131 Harbor Bay Parkway, STE 166 Alameda, CA 94502 Tel: 510-567-6800 E-mail Us
Mites
Documents:
- Bug Bites (PDF - 137kb)*
- Biting Mites (PDF - 49kb)*
- Scabies Brochure (PDF - 66kb)*
Mites, ticks and spiders belong in the class Arachnida. Adult mites have eight legs and are very small to microscopic in size. Mites are a very diverse group of arthropods and can be found in just about any habitat. Mites are scavengers, predators, or parasites of plants, insects and animals. Some can transmit human, animal and plant diseases, cause agricultural losses, affect honey bee colonies, and cause dermatitis and allergies in humans. However, the majority of mites goes unnoticed and has no direct effect on humans.
There are a variety of mites that may bite humans and cause irritation and itchy papules. Most of them only bite humans when the normal host is unavailable such as the Tropical Rat Mite or the bird mites. They do not remain on or in the skin. Other mites known to cause contact dermatitis include a variety of grain mites. Mold mites do not bite humans, but can be a nuisance due to the large numbers that can develop within the home. The scabies mites live under the skin of humans and animals (mange).
Chicken Mite (Dermanyssus gallinae)The Tropical rat mite is the most commonly reported biting mite in Alameda County. The natural host for this mite is rodents, particularly the Roof Rat. Eliminating rats from the property will solve the mite problem. The bite of this mite does cause severe itching and anxiety, especially women and young children.
Our District will identify the mite, conduct a site evaluation and recommend what action to take.
* Portable Document Format (PDF) file requires the free Adobe Reader.
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