Poultry mite invasion in my garden and house

[Marigold]

I think your most likely culprit may be these: Harvest mites. Absolute bug***s! When I had outdoor cats, they used to sometimes get them. They are very tiny, almost invisible to the naked eye. But, they do congregate on grass, shrubs etc. https://www.the-piedpiper.co.uk/th5i.htm#harvestmite

I'm scratching like mad, reading this thread!!

This is a very interesting and informative link, LadyA. esp.in combination with the enlarged photo of JaffaCake's mites. Especially this sentence;
'Heavy infestations, however, are often found to be sharply localised; a heavy infestation may occur in the gardens of one or two houses in a village which is otherwise free from the pest.'

Our dog is prone to getting harvest mites, but as the link says, usually later in the summer than June. The diagram in the link above seems to suggest a fatter, rounded body sort of mite, compared with your photo, though.
If it's possible that it's another mite that feeds on plant sources, does the evidence point to the large eucalyptus tree? possibly blown on the wind to window frames, or carried in on clothing etc by humans? Is the tree itself heavily infested?
At least, if you can get someone to come and have a look at them, you'll have a photo, a lot of research and some theories to share with them.

 

[LadyA]

It looks more louse like than mite like. Bark lice? But I've never seen them in the quantity you describe.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

I am so so grateful to have you guys to talk to. Was totally freaked out last night as found three in my dad’s bathroom that obviously bought back with me!! Called environmental health pest control and they said that as it was outside they couldn’t do anything about it and showed no interest. They suggested calling in a private firm. I did contact the firms that tweetie pie sent but as yet not heard back from them. Just had a very interesting chat to my dad’s gardener and he thinks also harvest mites. He said they come out if there is rapeseed fields. He also said that they head for any bright colours and things that are white. I found some on the white cupboard in dad’s bathroom. He is going to come up with me tomorrow and have a look and help me blitz some parts of garden. The first thing that I did was check the eucalyptus tree for mites and there was nothing. Eucalyptus essential oils are good for warding off mites also. At least I am happy that my chocs are okay and won’t have to deal with the illness and which I realise was bird mites last year. I have now I closed the run and birds can’t get near them. I also remember that last year in the old run I found birds had got in. This time I built a completely enclosed run with a plastic roof and bought a plastic coop from Solway which is totally amazing. As am new to keeping chickens been a bit of a drama. As I learnt all about rats too when I moved them into the greenhouse. I built a fox proof rat proof and what I thought was bird proof/mite proof environment. There were free ranging until this happened a couple of weeks ago until I started to discover these little critters. I am now going to try and contact again the private links that tweetie pie sent me again. The only good thing is that I am working from my dad’s and getting to spend time with him which I don’t normally have time to do. He is unable to walk and I have carers coming in around the clock and I usually rush in and out to sort out problems pay bills etc and we are getting to spend loads of time. Just hate the fact that my chocs are at the house. Now I am going to try private companies again. Thanks Rick for blowing up that photo. It does look like springtails but it says that they don’t bite humans. I am really missing seeing my chocs though. Jaffa Cake (my fab black bantam

 

[Tweetypie]

Don't know about everyone else, but every time I read this I start scratching 07

FYI the link I posted was http://www.ecoguard-uk.com/birdmitetreatment.html and these are in Essex area.

I see they have a main jumber and a mobile, too. I hope they reply to you soon, Jaffa. I think we are all intrigued aswell as concerned for you. Must be absolutely terrible having them in your home, so much so, that I am now looking at buying an air purifier with hepa filter to prevent anything similar coming in my home, as I do a lot of gardening. Apparently these purifiers prevent 99.9% of mites, eggs, spores, anything airborne.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Hello Everyone,

Checking in to update .... after another afternoon of smiting and putting down DE, I had a very interesting chat with Simon from ecoguard, he thinks that they could be booklice. He looked at the photos and has sent them to a friend of his who is a Entomologist. I cleared another part of the side of the house today and they were hiding in my coal bunker, under wood and plants that I had pulled out of the ground. The more that I read about booklice the more I think that this is what they are. I dug trenches around my cottage last summer to try and deal with the damp and filled them with stones. They seem to be hiding in the stones. Booklice are drawn to moisture and then hide under anything that they can find and also live off of plant spores, which explains the xmas tree. Massive infestations can get into the house and then live in books hence the name. Yikes .. after an investigation with my dad's gardener he didn't think that they were harvest mites as Marigold said thier bodies are more round!! Anyway I am waiting for Simon to get back to me from the Entomologist. Thanks so much for sending me those links tweetie pie. I am also going to call BPCA tomorrow. https://bpca.org.uk/a-z-of-pest-advice/booklice-control-how-to-get-rid-of-booklice-psocids-bpca-pests/189178

Thanks again for all your help.

Mandi

 

[Tweetypie]

I've been waiting with bated breath all day on news of these bugs. I'm pleased you spoke to the guy and he gave you some hope in finding out what they are. I think we all all extremely intrigued. They do look like booklice. I had a peek on BPCA website. Keep us all posted, Mandi.

PS Odd thing is that it says booklice don't bite....

 

[LadyA]

And of course booklice and barklice are the same basic species. From what I've read, although they don't actually bite, they can cause skin irritation. So, I suppose they may as well bite you and be done with it! :lol:

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Hi LadyA and Tweetie Pie,

Thanks so much for your support. Makes me feel not so on my own in my fight to discover what the hell is going on ... yes barklice, you mention them due to the eucalyptus tree ... i just found one in my coffee cup in my god damn van so fly spray not working ... am going to have to bomb my van ... I have never had so many shower or hair washes in my life ...

I am going to contact the BPCA once got some work done!

Scratch scratch scratch l 07

 

[bigyetiman]

No you are not on your own and we all intrigued and we accept it as part and parcel of life and don't freak out. We googled book lice fascinating, but damn annoying if you have an invasion. Hope you get it sorted soon.
Weird isn't it how we all start scratching when you read anything like this

 

[Margaid]

Not the same, but we cleared out the flat of a cousin who had died. I'd never seen books that had been attacked by Book worms before!

The damage was really extensive - huge round "tunnels" through the pages.

I remember a plague of greenfly once Jaffa Cake. I was walking down a road on a hot summer's day when I was suddenly engulfed by a swarm of them. I drove a 30 minute journey home in 20 minutes and when I got out of the shower my clothes were in a trail up to the bathroom. Starting at the front door with my sandals, my dress was on the stairs and my underwear in two places on the landing - and they didn't bite!

 

[Tweetypie]

Hey Mandi, I sent your pics off and here is the result...


Dear Tania

Thank you very much for your recent enquiry and photographs of the insect causing distress in Essex.

We have consulted colleagues on site and unfortunately this does not appear to be a parasite that we can identify. It does not seem to be a mite by its body configuration.

We deal with parasites of domestic animals here and this particular insect does not seem to fit that category. Though they jump and bite it is more likely to be eating people opportunistically more than as a requirement as parasites do.

Can we suggest that you submit photo’s to the Royal Entomological Society (https://www.royensoc.co.uk/identifying-insects). They have on their website a free service to identify insects of all types.

I hope you find some resolution to your enquiry.


Kindest regards
Colin Capner

Project Coordinator

Park Farm Buildings, Park Lane, St. Briavels, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom, GL15 6QX

[email protected] | T: +44 (0)1594 530 809
Visit: www.ridgewayresearch.co.uk

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Thanks so much for your posts! You made me laugh as I did a strip on my dads doorstep as only went back to the house to collect a couple of things and check on my chocs and swatted 3 on my jeans and one on my laptop which has convinced me that they are now in the house as there was no smiting or gardening involved. I asked my dad's carer to grab a recycling bag and chucked shoes jeans underwear in and ran to the bathroom! Oh My God!!! I rang the BPCA today and they sent me more pest controllers in the area! I rang one near to me and he had a look at the photo. He said that they are not mites and they are not booklice so ... who knows ... he is coming out on Monday so at least some joy there ... hopefully he will be able to identify what the hell it is! I still haven't heard back from the entomologist! Thanks for the encouragement and support. I relocated my goldfish pimkie to my dads today and as I lifted the tank one of them ran from underneath so they are def in the house now ... 06 06

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Tweetie pie, thanks so much for sending off my photo. At least I know they are not after my chickens. I have uploaded a picture to the entomologist site. Thanks so much! The only thing keeping me from going mad is logging on and talking to you guys... I am missing my house and bed! And I AM trying not to freak out but it isn't easy!!

 

[Margaid]

I think under the circumstances freaking out is allowed Jaffa Cake. Keeping my fingers crossed that you get an answer and a solution on Monday!

 

[Tweetypie]

Might be a good idea to catch a few of them, pop them in a small box and post them to the entomologists to verify what they are. It is not as easy when looking at photo's. I am sure they might ask you to do that.

We are all hoping you solve this mystery soon. Be careful you don't get locked up for exposing yourself 10 10

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Tee hee! ... I tried to catch a couple but they are too quick. Will see what the pest guy says!!! Luckily my dads house is quite isolated :lol:

 

[Marigold]

Tee hee! ... I tried to catch a couple but they are too quick. Will see what the pest guy says!!! Luckily my dads house is quite isolated :lol:

Could you try trapping some specimens? Eg, put down a small square of stiff plastic in an area where they're common, (damp if you think they like that) with a small dish or pot on top, then next day quickly pick up the dish and plastic, bag it up and seal it.

 

[Margaid]

If the pest control guy can't identify them tomorrow, maybe he can help you catch some!

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Hello,

I have some news ... I received the following from the RES. So thanks Tweetie Pie ...

Hi Mandi
The common name for collembolans in Uk is springtails as they have a forked appendage (furca) which they use to jump but they feed on decaying plant matter and do not infest/feed on people or animals. In UK the snow flea is a specific insect, Boreus hyemalis, belonging to the order Mecoptera but despite the name does not feed on blood.
As the problem is causing you concern you should contact a local pest control operator.
Best wishes
Jim Hardie
Professor Jim Hardie,
Director of Science, Royal Entomological Society, The Mansion House, Chiswell Green Lane, St. Albans, Herts AL2 3NS, UK.
Tel.: 07740 242868; email: [email protected]

The pest controller was great and also confirmed that they were springtails however he said that there was nothing that he could do. No point in spraying as they would just come back. He suggested I keep spraying with Smite and putting down DE and Ant Powder and try to convince them to leave. It was interesting though as he showed me some adult specimens and indeed they have a spring in their tail and if you touch them they spring 10 cm in the air. They are also called snow fleas for this reason.

For the moment we are hiding at my dads til I can think what to do.

Thanks so much for all your help in getting to the bottom of this.

I am worried about my chickens though as even though they see fine in themselves they are very quiet and did't want to come and see me yesterday when I went up. They have stopped laying and I found a wind egg in the nesting box. Could it be that they are missing the attention as I used to have them out in the garden all the time withe me. Also would they stop laying due to the heat. I am worried as the same happened last year in the heat when the mites hit us. And I found my first wind egg. I thought it was because JaffaCake was young and it was properly her first lay. She is a mixture of bantam and normal size chickens. My neighbour raised her. She lays quite big eggs now but all that has stopped (she has three other girls with her). And after a couple of days there was only a tiny wind egg in the box.

Any opinions or advice?

Also Rick you were right ... they are springtails but also they were feeding off the spores on the Xmas tree.

Looks like I have a big job ahead of me ...

 

[Tweetypie]

Hi Mandi

I didn't see these reposnse regarding the bugs and I messaged you enquiring what the "bugs" were. I do recall someone saying springtails. I am so pleased you have the answer. I do hope you can get rid of them. PS I just read that springtails don't like bleach or vinegar...

The heat seems to be affecting the hens. Mine stay under the shrubs all day, except to come out to drink or eat and then go back again. One of mine (Cindy) laid a softish shelled egg this morning. She doesn't usually lay every day, but she had a normal egg yesterday, so I am putting it down the 29 degrees of heat! I think a wind egg is one without a yolk, but the experts on here will advise better than me