Do Mites Bite?

While some mites do bite people, we’re rarely their first choice. Bird mites, for example, prefer to bite pigeons and sparrows. Rodent mites, on the other hand, prefer mice and rats. Itch mites, another common pest, primarily feed on insects. Yet all these mites will bite people if the rodents, birds, or insects they feed on die or leave, as we’re their only chance for survival. That said, they can’t live on humans for very long, and will soon die off if they can’t find their main source of food.

Other mites, on the other hand, are more than happy to feed on people. Chiggers are a prime example of this, as they primarily target humans and other mammals. These mites will crawl onto your body, where they’ll start eating your skin. They’ll pour their skin-digesting saliva, before slurping up the liquefied skin. These mites are a serious concern, as some of the worst mite bites are attributed to them.

Despite many mites biting and feeding on people, there are plenty of others who will never bite you. These mites tend to be some of the more common ones, like house dust mites and clover mites.

House dust mites love to feed on people, but they will never bite. So how do they feed on us then? They’ve learned to sit and wait for our skin to flake and fall off. By living on your carpets, beddings, and a number of other places, dust mites have quick and easy access to your skin flakes. That way they can start feasting the moment parts of your skin start falling off.

Clover mites are another type of mite that won’t bite you. These mites don’t even feed on any animals. Instead, they prefer to feed on plants like clovers, grasses, and fruit trees.