Bed Bug Life Cycle

As many of you know, New York, as well as many other large cities worldwide, has come to be the home to an ample estimate of Pigeons. Yes I am talking about the pigeons that rest and nest on your windowsills, balconies, fire escapes, and park benches everyday! Have you ever taken a step back to wonder why these birds seem to thrive in your neighborhood? I mean you do live in New York City, why would such a huge population of birds thrive in an overcrowded, polluted, concrete jungle?

Well.. The traditional speculate behind this infestation (that many population are comfortable with and encourage) is likely the absence of the Pigeon's natural predators. I mean how often do you see a peregrine falcon swooping down to the curb of a New York City street? Large cities supply Pigeons with an abundance of food and security that is not only maintaining their lifespan but also production it easier for them to mate more often. For many years pest control clubs have been responding to complaints about pigeons with the recommendation of avian poisons. Some of the avian poisons, however, are nonselective in nature, meaning that non-target species may unfortunately have to take their last breath after ingesting or feeding on a bird that has ingested these poisons. For this very reason, in August of 2000 the Nyc Governor signed a bill banning the use of plump avian poisons. In coordination with the ban on pigeon control straight through the use of various avian poisons, pigeons are breeding at an exorbitant rate; resulting in an ever-growing pigeon population wreaking havoc on uninformed city-dwellers.

Ok, So by now you're probably wondering what all of this pigeon talk has to do with bugs right? Well, here goes.

You see, when it comes to the pigeon qoute in Nyc, most population are worried about the repulsive droppings they leave behind on your homes, cars, and sidewalks.. Oh yeah! Don't forget your clothes and hair, on a bad day. Some population may even worry about more serious things such as condition hazards and the spread of disease. But the one thing most population have not determined is the pests of our pests. That's right! Bird Mites... Similar to bed bugs, bird mites are a parasite, meaning that they feed on the blood of living organisms. Although the host that bird mites prefer is birds, they are also attracted to mammals such as humans... Yes... You! These itty bitty creatures will often bite humans when their natural food source (birds) is absent. Similar to their darling host, bird mites reproduce at a rapid pace, multiplying into thousands without warning.

Lucky for you, I am here to notify the uninformed.

There are many separate types of bird mites, canary lung mites, feather mites, grey mites, and a major menace called the red mite. Red mites are commonly as small as 1mm in distance and are white or clear in color. Any way when they feed they will regularly turn a dark red or brown. Bird mites are often nocturnal and feed on their hosts at night. These nearly puny creatures, averaging between.7 and 1 mm in length, are oftentimes overlooked or mistaken for bed bugs (Reference: 2). Unless they are moving, it is exceptionally difficult to see bird mites. Symptoms of bird mites consist of pin-size bites, itching, small red bumps, and a crawling sensation on the skin (Reference: 1). One way to check your live-in bird cage is to place a sheet over the about area, if there are small specks or stains when you take off the sheet then you may have something to worry about.

Bird mites have five stages in their life cycle: egg, larvae, protonymph, deutonymph and adult. The larvae can be identified by having three pair of legs, while the nymphs and adults have four pair (Reference: 2).

Now that you have an idea what to look for, let's back track a puny bit. Remember the ample pigeon population that we spoke about just a puny while ago? Well we all know that the millions of pigeons that are dwelling on your windowsills and underneath your air conditioners may be a pester you; but what you assuredly need to think is that those same pigeons may have puny pests of their own. Allowing pigeons to nest near windows and air conditioners increases the likelihood of bringing bird mites into your home, turning their pest qoute into your pest problem!

Some guidance I would offer in helping keep your home and house bird mite free would be to close all openings and holes that are large enough for birds to enter attics and install hardware cloth on porches and outside surroundings to preclude roosting. Outdoor birds, such as pigeons, should be discouraged from nesting in or near buildings. Lastly, I very suggest that residents disrupt nest-building efforts near home entrances and windows.

So I am sure many of you are thinking, "well I can't have birdmites" or "that's fine I'll just stay away from the pigeons from now on". If it were that simple, I guess this report in its essence would be meaningless. Bird mite infestations are difficult to eradicate and often wish the aid of a knowledgeable and experienced pest control company.