Mite Control Services

Are Mites Harmful?

Mites, which are tiny arthropods, can pose various risks to both humans and animals. Their harmful effects can range from physical damage to triggering allergic reactions or even transmitting diseases. Here are some of the ways in which mites can be considered harmful:

Allergic Reactions:

• Dust Mites: One of the most common types of mites that affect humans are dust mites. These mites thrive in warm, humid environments, particularly in bedding, carpets, and upholstered furniture. Their waste products and body fragments are potent allergens. People who are sensitive or allergic to dust mites may experience symptoms such as sneezing, nasal congestion, coughing, and asthma. These allergies can be chronic and significantly affect a person's quality of life.
• Mite Bites: Certain types of mites, such as the chigger mite, bite humans and animals. The bites cause intense itching, inflammation, and discomfort. In some cases, the bites can lead to secondary infections if scratched excessively.

Skin Irritation and Infection:

• Scabies Mites: Sarcoptes scabiei, commonly known as scabies mites, burrow into the skin, causing intense itching and inflammation. This condition is highly contagious and can spread through close contact. It results in a rash that often appears as red, raised bumps and is typically seen in the webbing of fingers, wrists, elbows, and genital areas.
• Mite-induced Dermatitis: Mites can also cause dermatitis, which is an inflammation of the skin, either through direct contact or due to an allergic reaction. The condition can result in rashes, swelling, and irritation, leading to further complications if left untreated.

Transmission of Diseases:

• Mite-Borne Diseases: Some mites are vectors for diseases. For example, the ornithonyssus mite can transmit Rickettsial pox, a bacterial infection that causes a rash, fever, and other flu-like symptoms. Mites like the chigger can also carry diseases that affect both animals and humans.

Mites can be harmful in a variety of ways, including causing allergic reactions, skin irritation, transmission of diseases, and economic losses. Proper management, such as frequent cleaning, controlling humidity, and pest control, is crucial in minimizing these risks.

Mite Control

Mites may be tiny, but they can cause significant problems for both homes and businesses if not properly addressed. Our professional mite control is the most effective way to eliminate infestations and prevent them from returning. Here are some of the reasons why investing in professional mite control is the best choice:

• Accurate Identification of the Problem: There are many types of mites—such as bird mites, clover mites, dust mites, and rodent mites—and each requires a different control approach. Our professionals are trained to identify the specific species and tailor the treatment plan accordingly, ensuring the problem is handled at the source.
• Protects Health and Comfort: Mites can cause allergic reactions, skin irritation, and respiratory problems in people and pets. In businesses, they can affect employee comfort and even trigger complaints or health concerns. Our professional treatments reduce these risks by removing the infestation quickly and safely.
• Targeted Treatment Solutions: Store-bought sprays or DIY remedies often only address the surface issue. Our pest control experts use proven methods and advanced products that eliminate mites at all life stages, including hidden eggs and larvae, for long-lasting results.
• Prevention of Reinfestations: Mites often return if the root cause—such as bird nests, rodent activity, or moisture issues—is not addressed. Our professionals not only eliminate the mites but also identify and correct the underlying conditions that allow them to thrive, reducing the risk of recurring infestations.
• Protection for Property and Reputation: In homes, mites can create ongoing discomfort and damage fabrics or furnishings. In businesses such as hotels, offices, or healthcare facilities, a mite problem can quickly harm reputation, leading to complaints, bad reviews, or even regulatory issues. Our professional control protects both property and public image.
• Safe and Efficient Solutions: Mite infestations can be difficult to treat without professional-grade products, which are both more effective and applied in a way that’s safe for people, pets, and the environment. Our professionals know how to eliminate mites thoroughly without putting your household or staff at risk.

Our professional mite control gives you peace of mind, long-term protection, and a healthier environment—something DIY methods rarely achieve.

Learn more: How To Get Rid Of Mites

Types of Mites

Mites are an incredibly diverse group of arachnids, with over 50,000 described species and potentially many more undiscovered ones. Here are some of the more common types of mites in our area:

• Chiggers: Chiggers are a type of trombiculid mite. The larval stage is parasitic on mammals, including humans. Chigger bites can result in intense itching and skin irritation, often in areas with tall grass and vegetation.
• Clover Mites: Clover mites are tiny, plant-feeding mites that often enter homes in search of moisture. They are harmless to humans but can be a nuisance when they become numerous indoors.
• Concrete Mites: Concrete mites, scientifically known as Balaustium spp., are tiny arachnids with a distinctive red or orange coloration and a velvety appearance. They primarily inhabit terrestrial environments, such as soil, leaf litter, and mosses, where they play a role as predators of small arthropods. While not known for biting humans, they may occasionally use their mouthparts defensively. Concrete mites are important in ecosystem dynamics but can be minor pests in certain agricultural contexts.

Mite Appearance

Mites are tiny arthropods that are often difficult to see with the naked eye, depending on the species. They typically have oval or round bodies with eight legs in their adult stage. Their appearance varies based on species and habitat:

• Dust Mites – These microscopic pests are translucent white and have soft, oval bodies with short legs. They are too small to see without magnification.
• Spider Mites – These plant pests are red, brown, or green and are extremely tiny, often leaving behind fine webbing on plant leaves.
• Scabies Mites – These human parasites are microscopic and burrow under the skin, making them impossible to see directly, but their effects (itchy rash and burrows) are noticeable.
• Bird & Rodent Mites – These are visible to the naked eye, appearing as tiny black, red, or white specks that move across surfaces or skin.
• Chigger Mites – These are bright red, extremely tiny larvae that attach to skin and cause intense itching.

Where Are Mites Found?

Mites are tiny arthropods that can be found in various environments, both indoors and outdoors. Their habitats depend on the type of mite, but there are a few common places where you are most likely to encounter them:

• Bedding and Furniture: Dust mites are very common in bedding, pillows, mattresses, and upholstered furniture. They thrive in warm, humid environments and feed on skin flakes shed by humans and pets.
• Carpets and Rugs: Dust mites also inhabit carpets, rugs, and other fabric surfaces, as they provide both warmth and food sources (human and pet skin flakes).
• Air Ducts and HVAC Systems: Mites can live in air ducts, especially if there is accumulated dust. Poor ventilation and moisture in air systems can create ideal conditions for mites.
• Clothing: Certain mites, like the clothing or "clothes" mite, can be found in clothing, particularly in damp, dark environments such as basements.
• Gardens and Lawns: Some mites, such as plant-feeding spider mites, can be found on plants, trees, and shrubs, where they feed on the sap of plants. They can cause damage to crops and garden plants.
• Piles of Debris and Wood: Mites, including wood mites, are commonly found in piles of wood, leaves, and other organic debris. These areas provide a moist and sheltered environment that is ideal for mites.
• Bird and Animal Nests: Mites, such as the bird mite, can infest bird nests, and sometimes spread to other animals or even humans if they come into contact with the nests.
• Pet Fur: Some mites, such as the mange mite or ear mites, infest pets like dogs, cats, and rodents. These mites can cause skin irritation and hair loss in animals.
• Wildlife and Rodents: Rodents and other wildlife can carry mites, particularly in nests or burrows. These mites may spread to human habitats if rodents are present.
• Farm Animals: Certain mites, such as the poultry mite, are commonly found on farm animals, particularly in barns, coops, and stables. These mites may also bite humans who come into close contact with infested animals.
• In Dust and Soil: Mites like the soil mite or fungal mite can often be found in the soil, particularly in areas where there is a lot of organic matter like mulch, compost, or decomposing plants.

To minimize your chances of encountering mites, it’s important to regularly clean areas prone to dust accumulation, such as bedding, carpets, and air ducts, and manage humidity levels in your home to reduce the ideal environment for mites to thrive.

What Do Mites Eat?

Mites are a diverse group of arachnids, and their diet varies depending on the species. Generally, mites can be classified into different categories based on what they feed on:

• Plant-feeding Mites: These mites, such as spider mites (Tetranychidae), feed on plant material. They use specialized mouthparts called chelicerae to pierce plant cells and suck out the sap. This can lead to the weakening of the plant, often causing damage such as leaf discoloration, stippling, or even defoliation.
• Predatory Mites: Some mites, like those from the family Phytoseiidae, are predators. They primarily feed on other smaller mites, insects, and pest organisms such as aphids and scale insects. These mites are often used in biological pest control.
• Fungal-feeding Mites: Certain mites feed on fungi and mold, such as the house dust mite (Dermatophagoides spp.), which feeds on dead skin cells and mold particles.
• Decomposers: Some mites are scavengers or decomposers, consuming organic material like dead plants, animals, and decaying matter. These mites play a crucial role in the decomposition process.
• Parasitic Mites: Parasitic mites feed on the blood or tissue of their host organisms, such as birds, mammals, or reptiles. Examples include the mange mite (Sarcoptes scabiei), which causes scabies in humans and animals, and the ear mites that infest pets.

Mites can have a wide variety of diets depending on their type, ranging from plants and fungi to other mites, insects, or even blood and tissue from host organisms.

Mite Life Cycle

Mites, like many arthropods, undergo a life cycle that can vary slightly depending on the species, but it generally follows a similar pattern. The typical mite life cycle consists of four primary stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult.

• Egg: The life cycle begins with the egg. Female mites lay eggs on surfaces where they can find a suitable environment for the developing larvae. The egg stage can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on the species and environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity.
• Larva: Once the egg hatches, the mite enters the larval stage. This stage is typically short, lasting only a few days to a week. Larvae have three pairs of legs (as opposed to adults, which have four pairs), and they are more mobile in search of food. During this stage, the mite may feed and grow, depending on the species and environment.
• Nymph: After the larval stage, mites molt into a nymph. Nymphs are similar in appearance to adult mites, except that they are smaller and not yet fully mature. They possess four pairs of legs and continue to feed and grow. The nymph stage can have multiple instars (developmental stages) where they molt several times before reaching adulthood.
• Adult: The final stage of the mite life cycle is adulthood. Adult mites are fully developed and can reproduce. Depending on the species, they can live for days to months. During the adult stage, they may continue to molt a few times throughout their lives, although they do not change significantly in form. Females typically produce eggs, completing the cycle.

Mites can reproduce rapidly, and in some cases, they may go through multiple generations within a short time frame, particularly in favorable environmental conditions. The life cycle duration varies, but it can range from a few weeks to several months, depending on factors like species and habitat.