Mites are tiny parasitic insects living in our homes and bodies for generations. There are many different types of mites on humans that you need to know about to get the right treatment if you get bitten by one of them. These little bugs can cause allergic reactions and leave irritating bites on your body which can lead to serious issues depending on the type or specie of mite.
Most common types of mites on humans
Here we have detailed information about different types of mites that live on humans or attack them.
1- Clover Mites
Clover mites are commonly found in the garden and lawns, which means they can easily enter your house in thousands. They commonly do not cause serious health or skin issues, but their overgrowth in the house can be a nuisance.
The biggest issue with clover mites happens if you smash them on your drapery or carpets. They will leave a huge red stain that will be hard to remove and easily damage your furniture and carpets.
Clover mites are brown, green, or red with large front legs. Fruit trees, grasses, clover, and other plants are their main food source. Moreover, they prefer well-fertilized lawns and gardens. If their food plants dry or disappear, they will surely enter your house.
As the colder weather approaches, clover mites become more active because they are looking for refuge. They will lay eggs and start molting in the fall season. The female mites will lay eggs without fertilization which are visible to the naked eye.
2- House Dust Mites
House dust mites are not visible to the naked eye, which makes them hard to detect and remove. The major issue created by these mites is that their feces can become airborne, which is a serious allergen and can cause allergic reactions. Find out how to know if you have dust mites here.
If you are allergic to house dust, chances are you are allergic to the feces of dust mites found in the house. Moreover, these mites have been a major trigger for asthma attacks.
However, exposure to dust mites will not cause itching or skin allergy.
They do not live on humans but can easily attach to your clothes, where they can feed on dead skin, flakes, and dander that falls off your body. Moreover, they also live on animals.
Commonly dust mites are found on pillows, mattresses, and furniture with upholstery.
3- Demodex Mites
This is one of the most common types of mites on a human because they survive on human blood, oils, and dead skin. They are microscopic and reside inside the pores of humans, especially near the nose, eyes, and eyebrows. Besides, they prefer the areas with more hair follicles to enjoy the sebum and oil produced by oil glands.
They typically do not cause any harm, but their overgrowth can lead to serious skin infections. The females of Demodex mites will borrow deep holes in your skin to lay eggs that irritate you. Moreover, their overgrowth can cause acne-like growth of your skin, itching, redness, and pustule formation. You need to take extra care of your skin to ensure that Demodex mites will not overgrow or cause any future skin problems.
4- Itch Mites
Itch mites commonly feed on insects and plants, but they can bite humans if they come in close contact with them. Straw itch mite is a type that commonly resides on leaves, hay, straw, seeds, grasses, and other similar materials.
Itch mites can even attack insects that live in sheltered locations. Therefore, if you have an insect infestation in your house or lawn, chances are you will also have itch mites. These mites can easily attack and bite humans and other animals as well.
You cannot see itch mites or feel their bites, but there will be a red itch mark on your body every time you get bitten. The mark will be like a rash on your skin. If there is an overgrowth of itch mites in your house or area, you will notice several bites and rashes on your skin. However, the good news is they will not survive indoors for a long time and cannot transmit any diseases.
5- Chigger Mites
Two chigger mite species attack humans, birds, reptiles, and other mammals. Nymph is a larval stage with 6 legs that preys on insects. It feeds on ground-dwelling birds and rodents’ blood. These are the main host for this mite, but when these hosts are not available, the mite can bite humans.
These are red or yellow and can be seen as barely visible specks. These mites detect animals by the traces of carbon dioxide exhaled.
As they detect animals, they can climb on a surface (usually vegetation or soil) and grab the host with their front legs while grasping their host with their mouth.
Instead of sucking blood, these mites cut into the host’s skin and inject their saliva, which has skin-digesting properties.
Thus, these mites suck the liquified skin for as long as it is dislodged. As the host’s skin reacts to this process, the bite gets hardened and inflamed, which results in itching. Chiggers are usually found in the cracks in the soil in rural areas, where they can stay for years without any disturbance.
6- Scabies Mites
Scabies mites infect humans and other mammals, and the infection spreads through personal contact among humans. Moreover, scabies mites have several types, and while these types can switch from one host to another, they prefer a specific host species for reproduction.
Scabies mites also infest dogs, where they can cause mange. When humans are infested with these mites, the most common condition they go through is known as scabies.
Most types of mites stay on the skin’s surface, but scabies mites produce tunnels under the skin surface by burrowing around 1 centimetre or more deep.
It is where they lay their eggs, and these mites are fed on the secretions from the skin. The total lifecycle of scabies (human infesting) mites is around 10 to 17 days, and they spend this entire on their host.
Without their host, scabies mites can only survive for a few days.
Infection from scabies mites can go unnoticed for around a month, but severe itching and irritation may develop on the skin, especially during night
Complications from These Types of Mites on Humans
Certain complications can arise due to different types of mites on humans. However, some issues are irritation, itching, redness, skin that is warm to the touch, and irritability. If you notice any of these symptoms, treating them with anti-itch creams and other home remedies is better.
Besides, you need to consult a doctor if the issue is not resolved. Moreover, you must get rid of the mites and take proper care so that infestation will not happen again.
Final Thoughts on the Different Types of Mites on Humans
Mites may appear like tiny, harmless organisms, but in reality, they can lead to serious problems, especially if you have sensitive skin. Therefore, it is essential to take all preventive measures and ensure that you take proper care if you work or live near birds or other animals.
If you think you have been bitten by one, then find out the types of mites on humans that may have attacked you before you visit your doctor for proper treatment.
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