Bird mite control in Randburg means finding and removing the nest the mites came from, treating the roof space and the rooms they've spread into, and closing the gaps so birds can't nest there again. Bird mites live on nesting birds and, once the chicks leave or die, they go looking for a new host, and bite people.
What bird mites are
Bird mites are tiny, barely visible specks, pale when hungry and reddish once they've fed, and they move quickly. They live in and around the nests of birds like Indian mynas, pigeons and sparrows, feeding on the adults and chicks. When the young birds fledge, or a nest is abandoned or removed, thousands of mites are left without a host. They spread out from the nest, through gaps in ceilings, light fittings, air vents and cornices, and into the rooms below.
They can bite people, causing itchy red spots, but they can't complete their life cycle on humans. That's important: the problem is temporary, but only once the source is dealt with.
Why Randburg roofs attract nesting birds
Mynas and pigeons are everywhere in Johannesburg, and Randburg's older homes give them plenty of nest sites: gaps under roof tiles, broken fascia boards, open eaves, spaces between the gutter and the roof, and old air vents. In flats, offices and shopping centres along the main roads, pigeons nest on ledges, in signage and in roof spaces, and mites from those nests can find their way into offices and flats. Spring and early summer, when birds breed, is when bird mite calls increase.
Bird mites or bed bugs?
Both bite at night, and people often assume the worst. Some clues help tell them apart:
- Bird mites are tiny and often seen as moving specks on walls, ceilings, windowsills and light fittings, especially near the roof. Bed bugs are larger, flat, apple-seed-sized and hide in mattress seams and bed frames.
- Bird mite problems usually start after birds have been nesting in the roof or eaves, often soon after the chicks have gone.
- Bed bugs leave dark spots on mattress seams; bird mites don't.
If you're not sure, our page on bed bugs in Randburg describes what to look for. Treating for the wrong one wastes time and money.
How we deal with bird mites
- Find the nest. We inspect the roof space, eaves, gutters and vents above the rooms where bites and mites are being found.
- Remove and treat the nest. Targeted nest treatment and removal, with treatment of the surrounding roof space and timbers where mites are present.
- Treat the affected rooms. Ceilings, light fittings, cornices, windowsills, skirting and the beds and furniture closest to the source.
- Bird proof. We seal the gaps the birds were using, or fit spikes or netting where needed, so they can't come back and start the cycle again.
Nobody needs to leave home, though children and pets should stay off treated areas until the product has dried.
What to do before we arrive
Don't block or pull anything out of the roof until we've seen it. Wash bedding on a hot cycle and vacuum the affected rooms, emptying the vacuum outside. Note where you see the specks most, often around a ceiling light, a window frame or an air vent, because that usually points straight at the nest above.
The mistake that spreads them
Pulling an active nest out of the roof yourself without treating it. The disturbed mites scatter through the ceiling and into the house, and now there's no host at all, so they look even harder for one. The other common mistake is repeatedly treating the bedroom while the nest stays in the roof above it.
A Randburg tip
Watch your roof line in early spring. If mynas or pigeons are carrying nesting material into a gap under the tiles or behind the gutter, that's the moment to act, before eggs are laid. Closing the gap then, with the birds not yet nesting, stops the whole bird mite problem before it starts. Our bird proofing service in Johannesburg covers the options.
What bird mite treatment costs, and why
The price depends on how many nests there are and how easy they are to reach, how many rooms the mites have spread into, and how much bird proofing is needed to close the gaps. A single nest above one bedroom in a single-storey house is a fairly quick job. Several nests in a double-storey roof, or pigeons on a commercial building, take more time. Our Johannesburg guide prices show where bird mite work starts, and this page shows the guide "from" price. We confirm everything after the inspection.
More detail is on bird mite control in Johannesburg. We treat bird mites in Northcliff homes too, and Dunkeld West has a local page. See the Randburg pest control hub for everything else in the area.
Combat Pest Control is owned and run by Jason van Heerden and has 25 years of experience. We're SAPCA registered and registered with the Department of Agriculture, we offer service within 24 hours, and bird mite treatments carry a 3-month guarantee. Call 084 200 2700, or WhatsApp us a photo of the specks or the nest.
Questions we get asked
How much does bird mite treatment cost?
It depends on how many nests need removing, how many rooms are affected and how much bird proofing is needed. A single nest above one room is a fairly quick job. We confirm the price after the inspection.
Can bird mites live on people?
No. They bite people but can't complete their life cycle on humans. Once the nest is removed and the area treated, the problem ends.
Why did the bites start after the birds left?
That's typical. When chicks fledge or a nest is abandoned, the mites lose their host and spread into the house looking for another one.
Do I need to move out during treatment?
No, you can stay at home. Children and pets just need to keep off the treated ceilings, sills and furniture until the product dries.
How do I stop it happening again?
Seal the gaps the birds were using, or fit spikes or netting, so they can't nest in the roof again. We can do this as part of the job.
Can I just remove the nest myself?
It's better not to. Pulling out an active nest without treating it scatters the mites into the ceiling and the rooms below.