Lately I've been finding bugs in my house on desk/table top, near the door frame and light switches. They are very tiny, walks very fast and do not hop. They do not bite and really don't hide. The adult is black and the youth is translucent. I can see them out during the day time. Usually I see a cluster of them. My wife thinks she accidentally brought them in when working in the garden. Sorry for the pictures. I couldn't focus on bugs this small. How do it get rid of them?
I cannot see enough detail to even guess at what they might be. I suggest that you use a Q-Tip, moistened toothpick, or similar object to place some of them in a small container of rubbing alcohol and take them to your nearest office of California's Cooperative Extension Service for assistance in identification as well as any necessary control recommendations - see http://celosangeles.ucanr.edu/ for contact information. Extension offices usually are a good resource when dealing with most home/yard/garden pest problems.
I found out they are bird mites. They can from the bird nest outside.
I read on forums that if I remove the bird nest, the bird mites will not have a host to feed on and they will eventually die off in weeks. is that true?
This is true, but it is illegal to remove the bird's nest until AFTER the young fledge. Only exceptions are House Sparrow and Starling!
We lived with bird mites in our house until the birds were done for the year. The mites were a nuicence, but nothing more. And the Barn Swallows were excellent mosquito eaters. And we have welcomed them back every year since. The heat brought the mites into the house. If you find mites a bother, imagine how the birds felt.
After the birds are gone, did you have to do any treatment to the house to get rid of the bird mites or they just died off by themselves?
with no host, they will die or go to mite heaven, or wherever it is mites go.
