Several members of my family have been getting bug bites lately and we didn't know where they were getting them. Twice we have found the same kind of bug in the house (picture attached). Looks like it could be a chigger, but not sure. Anyone able to confirm? Thank you!!
Looks like a mite, but very unlikely to be a chigger, as these are found outdoors. Biting mites indoors usually are bird or rodent mites.
Thank you! Is there anything I can do to facilitate the removal of these from the house (besides washing sheets and clothing)?
You can find some suggestions here - http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/insects/find/bird-and-rodent-mites-in-homes/
Very strange, only because we have not had any dead birds or rodents in or around our home. Is it possible that our kids had mites on their clothes after a visit to a park and then brought them into the home?
Other than that, I wouldn't even know where to begin in trying to remove the host.
Thank you!
-David
There's always the possibility that there is an abandoned bird/rodent nest that is not readily visible, or these mites could be free-living predatory mites. In any case, it is nearly impossible to determine the cause of 'mystery bites' without actually seeing/capturing the culprit(s) in the act of biting.
Yeah, that is the trouble we are having. Most of our family members have many red bites all over their body (mainly stomach and legs, some crotch area as well) but we see no obvious infestation. Aside from the 2-3 bugs (1 or 2 looked like the pics I posted, one was even smaller that my wife saw on her stomach), we don't see anything else!!!
Where might I begin to remediate this? I don't even know where to start!
Thank you,
David
At this point, I can only suggest you consult a dermatologist/allergist with experience in this area for a medical opinion, as there are several other causes of minor skin eruptions/irritations that easily can be mistaken for insect/mite/spider bites.
OK, so an update...we opened our windows and looked on the sills and found a LOT of tiny bugs (I have attached 2 images - same one, just different lighting). I captured some and placed them in rubbing alcohol and have an appointment with an exterminator tomorrow, but just wondering if anyone knows what these might be.
As I try to catch them on an alcohol soaked Qtip, I noticed that although they are normally slow, they can move very quickly and jump.
Anyway, any help would be greatly appreciated...my wife and kids are being bitten up really badly!!
Thank you,
David
Your latest images are of springtails, primitive arthropods in the order Collembola.They are incapable of biting humans. Most species are harmless scavengers on decomposing organic matter, but a few species can be pests on tender vegetation (see 'lucerne flea') and a couple are predators on other tiny arthropods. If you see any other 'mystery bugs,' I suggest that you use a Q-Tip or similar object to place a sample in a container of rubbing alcohol and take that to your county office of California's Cooperative Extension Service for assistance in identification as well as for any recommended control measures - see http://celosangeles.ucanr.edu/ for contact information.
