Mites

Getting rid of mites

Please note due to the variety of mites we may not always carry out a treatment, we may just provide advice on the situation. 

There is a non-refundable call out charge for mite treatment.  Mites thrive in damp conditions, so we may be able to treat the pest but we cannot resolve the general condition of the property.

Report this pest

What do they look like?

Barely visible to the naked eye, mites have eight legs and a round body, and are seldom noticed until they have built up sufficient numbers to be a major infestation. They are not insects but are arachnids, related to spiders. The typical mite emerges from its tiny egg in a dark crevice as a six-legged nymph, growing by a series of moults and acquiring another pair of legs in the process. Some species can survive starvation for up to six months.

Where do they live?

• Numerous habitats from houses to factories, farms etc.
• House Dust Mite - most houses have these as they live on our mattresses, feeding on tiny particles of shed skin.
• Furniture Mite - occurs in damp upholstery.
• Flour Mite - infests damp cereals or pasta and causes “Grocer’s Itch”, in people who handle infested commodities.
• Itch Mite or Scabies Mite - causes Mange or Scabies in pets by burrowing into the skin, causing an irritating rash.
• Bird Mites - frequently enter houses from old nests of sparrows, starlings or house martins, or from poultry.
• Harvest Mites - may bite people if brought in on the coats of dogs or on clothing.
• Red Spider Mite - the most conspicuous mite that enters houses. A plant feeder which comes indoors in spring to seek egg-laying sites and again in autumn to hibernate.

How much of a pest are they?

Often it is due to a commodity becoming infested or a piece of machinery requiring fumigation. Sometimes it is for public health or medical reasons, as many species, such as bird mites can bite humans. On other occasions it is because mites and their droppings are known to cause adverse reactions such as Baker's Itch and Asthma. Indeed, a protein from droppings of the house dust mite, DER P1, is thought to be a major causative agent in the modern Asthma epidemic.

How can I get rid of pests?

Newcastle City Council provides pest control service for the treatment of Mites, including details of treatment and post treatment advice.

Please note due to the variety of mites we may not always carry out a treatment, we may just provide advice on the situation. 

A lot of mite infestations are due to the conditions inside the property. They thrive in damp, moist conditions that cannot be treated by Pest Control.

If you do attempt treatment yourself, when using pesticides always follow the instructions on the label.