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Bird mites are one of the most neglected pests but they can turn into a nuisance. They are generally found living on the skin of the birds and can easily enter houses and other places. They are so small that they are barely spotted. However, they are more aggressive than bed bugs and their bite is painful.
Though there are various methods you can use to get rid of bird mites, it is quite difficult to eliminate them. The problem is that they breed into a massive population in no time and infest the entire house quickly. In this guide, we discuss some effective ways to get rid of bird mites naturally. We also talk about how you can make a homemade bird mite spray.
How To Get Rid of Bird Mites Naturally?
Once you know that you have a bird mite infestation, it is natural to get tempted to use chemical-based solutions to quickly get rid of it. However, these chemicals pose risks to your birds, pets and family. There are some natural, non-toxic safe ways to eliminate these pests effectively without using chemicals. You can try some of the proven natural remedies against these crawlers to make sure your birds, plants, animals and kids are safe.
The easiest way to eliminate a bird mite infestation is to use a vacuum cleaner. A simple vacuuming can remove all the bugs along with their eggs and larvae. See that you vacuum each corner of the infested area, paying attention to your belongings and furniture. Another effective remedy for bird mites is baking soda. It works on bird mites just like it does for bed bugs. You can spread the baking powder in areas you suspect to be infested and cover cracks and holes. You should keep reusing until you see the desired results.
You can use some powerful natural ingredients to make non-toxic homemade bird mite sprays that work effectively at eliminating these pests from your home, yard or farm. Essential oils like peppermint, eucalyptus, lavender and lemongrass are highly effective natural remedies that you can use against these nasty pests.
Homemade Bird Mite Spray – A Complete Guide
Using an insecticide to get rid of a bird mite infestation can cause harm to your birds and animals. This is why it is a good idea to use non-toxic, natural, safe remedies to eliminate bird mites. Homemade bird mite spray helps you get rid of these bugs from your home and farm with consistent use. Here are some of the most effective homemade natural bird mite spray options.
Vinegar – It can repel a variety of pests including bird mites and can be safely used in farms and poultry. You can mix white vinegar with a few drops of essential oil like peppermint and get a powerful spray ready for bird mites.
Essential Oils – Known to be effective at combating different species of pests, essential oils have powerful anti-parasitic properties that help them eliminate these mites. Their pleasant smell confuses these pests and they disorient and go away. Some of the best options for homemade sprays include peppermint, lemongrass, lavender, eucalyptus and cedarwood.
Listerine – While this ingredient helps ease the irritation and discomfort caused by parasites, they are also useful at getting rid of pests when sprayed directly to the infested area. Listerine contains menthol that repels bird mites and helps you eliminate these bugs safely.
Neem Oil – This oil also contains properties that kill parasitic pests. You can make a homemade bird mite spray by mixing a few drops of neem oil into the water and using it on infestation sites. You can also use neem oil to make traps that eliminate these pests.
Peppermint Oil – You can mix peppermint essential oil with tea tree and anise oil to make a powerful bird mite spray that kills and repels them on contact. This essential oil can be used in the home and not near animals or birds. You can simply add a few drops of peppermint oil to some water and get a handy spray that works against bird mites.
Orange Oil – To make this effective homemade bird mite spray, you can peel the lemon and grind the peels finely before mixing them into water. This mixture can be sieved and used as a spray for clothing, bedding and other areas in the house.
Heat Treatment For Bird Mites – What Temperature Kills Bird Mites?
Heat treatment is one of the most effective ways to get rid of bird mite infestation. This type of treatment works by heating the dry air inside the room using powerful air heaters designed for the purpose and circulating the air for hours. It penetrates the cracks and crevices inside the room to kill bird mites in all their life stages including eggs.
The process of using heat for bird mites involves raising the temperature of the infested room to about 55-60 degrees with the help of special heaters and holding them in place for hours to heat the items inside the room. The benefit is that it treats everything that we cannot apply insecticides to. Clothes can also be left inside the room to get heated and free of bird mites.
The treatment works by destroying the proteins these insects need to survive and drying them out to a point that they die. Heat treatment for bird mites is much more involved than that for bed bugs because these mites are in the cavities and need longer to eliminate.
Do Bird Mites Die In Winter?
While most believe that winter brings an end to the bird mite problem, it is not so actually. Not all of them freeze to death in cold temperatures. The population of bird mites consists of eggs, larvae and adults. Adult mites may die in freezing temperatures but eggs and young ones survive low temperature and continue to exist and breed.
Bird mites are not so dangerous as other insects and pests but they can be a nuisance at times. We hope these natural ways to get rid of these pests help you avoid them safely. If you spot a bird mite infestation, try any of these homemade remedies to address it quickly and prevent any further risks or danger.
