ENTFACT-637

PARASITIC MITES OF HUMANS

M ichael F. Potter, Extension Entomologist

M ites are very small arthropods which are closely Persons walking in chigger-infested areas can be
related to ticks. M ite larvae have six legs whereas the protected by treating clothing (cuffs, socks, waistline,
nymphal and adult stages have eight. M ost species of sleeves) or exposed skin with tick repellents. Some
mites are pests of agricultural crops. However, certain repellents should only be used on clothing; and it is
types of mites are parasitic on humans. important to follow label directions. People who suspect
they may have been attacked by chiggers should take a
! Chiggers soapy bath immediately and apply antiseptic to any
welts. A local anesthetic will provide temporary relief
Chiggers are the larvae of a from itching.
family of mites that are
sometimes called red bugs. Regular mowing and removal of weeds and brush make
The adults are large, red mites areas less suitable for chiggers and their wild hosts.
often seen running over M owing also enhances penetration and performance of
pavem ent and law ns. miticides, should they be required. Chigger populations
Chiggers are extremely small can be further reduced by treating infested areas with
(0.5 mm) and are difficult to residual miticides. Applications should be thorough but
see without magnification. The restricted to areas frequented and suspected of being
six-legged larvae are hairy infested.
and yellow-orange or light
red . They a re u su ally ! Hum an Scabies
encountered outdoors in low, damp places where
vegetation is rank and grass and weeds are overgrown. T h e sa rc op tic itc h m it e s ,
Some species also infest drier areas, however, making it Sarcoptes scabei, infest the skin
difficult to predict where an infestation will occur. of a variety of animals including
humans. The types of Sarcoptes
Chiggers overwinter as adults in the soil, becoming inhabiting the skin of mammals
active in the spring. Eggs are laid on the soil. After are all considered forms of
hatching, the larvae crawl about until they locate and Sarc op te s s c ab e i a n d can
attach to a suitable host. The larvae do not burrow into exchange hosts to some degree.
the skin, but inject a salivary fluid which produces a (For example, Canine scabies can
hardened, raised area around them. Body fluids from the be temporarily transferred from
host are withdrawn through a feeding tube. Larvae feed dogs to humans, causing itching
for about 4 days and then drop off and molt to and lesions on the waist, chest
nonparasitic nymphs and adults. Chiggers feed on a and forearms.)
variety of wild and domestic animals, as well as humans.
The life cycle (from egg to egg) is completed in about 50 Human scabies mites are very small and are rarely seen.
days. They commonly attack the thin skin between the fingers,
the bend of the elbow and knee, the penis, breasts, and
M ost people react to chigger bites by developing reddish the shoulder blades. The mites burrow into the skin,
welts within 24 hours. Intense itching accompanies the making tunnels up to 3 mm (0.1 inch) long. W hen they
welts, which may persist for a week or longer if not first burrow into the skin, the mites cause little irritation,
treated. Bites com monly occur around the ankles, but after about a month, sensitization begins. A rash
waistline, armpits, or other areas where clothing fits appears in the area of the burrows and intense itching is
tightly against the skin. Besides causing intense itching, experienced.
chigger bites that are scratched may result in infection
and sometimes fever. Chiggers in North America are not Scabies mites are transmitted by close personal contact,
known to transmit disease. usually from sleeping in the same bed. Bedridden
individuals in institutions (e.g., nursing homes) may also source. Their bites cause moderate to intense itching and
pass the mites from caregiver to patient. The adult irritation. Rodent and bird mites are very tiny, but
fertilized female mite is usually the infective life stage. usually can be seen with the naked eye. They are about
She adheres to the skin using suckers on her legs and the size of the period at the end of this sentence.
burrows into the skin where she lays her oval eggs. In 3
to 5 days these eggs hatch into larvae and move freely The first step in controlling bird or rodent mites is to
over the skin. Soon they transform into nym phs and eliminate the host animals and remove their nesting
reach maturity 10 to 14 days after hatching. sites. Often, the nests will be found in the attic, around
the eaves and rafters, or in the gutters or chimney.
A scabies infestation should be handled as a medical Gloves should be used when handling dead animals. A
problem and is readily diagnosed and treated by most respirator should also be worn when removing nest
physicians. (Confirmation requires isolating the mites in materials to avoid inhaling fungal spores and other
a skin scraping.) The first step to control a scabies potential disease-producing organisms associated with
infestation usually involves softening the skin with soap the droppings.
and water to make sure the pesticide treatments can
penetrate well. An evening bath followed by overnight After nests are removed, the areas adjacent to the nest
treatment works best. A total body (neck- down) should be sprayed or dusted with a residual insecticide
application of topical pesticide medication should such as those products labeled for flea control. Space or
remain for 8-12 hours before showering in the morning. ULV treatments with non-residual materials (e.g.,
Commonly used products include lindane (Kwell (tm)), synergized pyrethrins) can be used in conjunction with
permethrin (Elimite (tm)) and crotamiton (Eurax (tm )). residual sprays. Space treatm ents are especially useful
Follow directions on the product package carefully. when the mite infestation has dispersed widely from the
nesting site. In this case, more extensive treatment with
Because the sym ptoms of scabies mite infestations are residual and non-residual insecticides may also be
delayed by about a month, other members of the necessary in other areas of the structure where mites are
household besides those showing symptoms may be observed. A vacuum cleaner or cloth moistened with
harboring the mites. It is important that everyone in the alcohol can be used to eliminate mites crawling on open
infected family or living group go through the treatment surfaces.
regime. A second treatment may be necessary to
eliminate an infestation of scabies m ites, but patients
should avoid overzealous pesticide treatment since 10/96
itching may persist for a week or more after treatment
and does not necessarily indicate treatment failure.

Scabies mites cannot live off of a human host for more

than 24 hours. Therefore, insecticide treatment of
premises is not warranted. It is recommended, however,
that coincident with treatment, the clothing and bedding
from infested individuals be washed in hot water or dry
cleaned.

! Bird and Rodent M ites

Parasitic mites that occasionally infest buildings are

usually associated with wild or domestic birds or
rodents. Bird and rodent mites
normally live on the host or in
their nests, but migrate to other
areas of the structure when the
animal dies or abandons the
nest. Rodent mites often become
a nuisance after an infestation
of mice or rats has been
elim inated. People usually
become aware of the problem
when they are attacked by mites
searching for an alternate food