Dermanyssus gallinae (also known as the red mite, poultry mite, red poultry mite, roost mite and chicken mite) is an ectoparasite of poultry and other bird species.

Description

Mites are blood feeders and attack resting birds at night. They are generally white or greyish in color, becoming darker or redder when engorged with blood. After feeding, they hide in cracks and crevices away from daylight, where they mate and lay eggs. The mite progresses through 5 life stages: egg, larva, protonymph, deutonymph and adult. Under favorable conditions this life cycle can be completed within seven days, so populations can grow rapidly – causing anaemia in badly affected flocks of poultry. Young birds are most susceptible. The mites can also affect the health of the birds indirectly, as they may serve as vectors for diseases such as Salmonellosis, avian spirochaetosis and Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae.

Dermansyssus gallinae will also bite some species of mammals, including humans, sometimes causing dermatitis and skin lesions, but it is widely noted that they are incapable of living and reproducing on human hosts.