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Mites
Any of numerous small to very minute arachnids of the order Acarina that have a body without a constriction between the cephalothorax and abdomen, mandibles generally chelate or adapted for piercing, usually four pairs of short legs in the adult and but three in the young larvae, and often breathing organs in the form of tracheae. Mites are regarded as parasites of insects and vertebrates some of which are important disease vectors, parasites of plants in which they frequently cause gall formation, pests of various stored products. Mites are completely innocuous free-living aquatic and terrestrial forms. Source: Merriam-Webster Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Bird Mites
Rattus rattus
Characteristics – Bird Mite problems usually occur after nesting birds in ceiling, eaves, or trees leave their nests. Mites left behind without a host to feed on migrate from the nests in large numbers and tend to bite any warm-blooded animal they encounter. Bird mites are usually not wind-blown. They are large enough to be seen crawling on walls.
Dust Mites
Rattus norvegicus
Characteristics – Dust mites are in the arachnid family which includes spiders, scorpions and ticks. Dust mites feed on dead skin that sloughs from our bodies (and probably potato chips & cookie crumbs). They live their whole lives in dark corner dust bunnies: hatching, growing, eating, defecating, mating, laying eggs. Many people develop severe allergies to dust mite droppings. Lie on a rug where they live and you might get itchy red bumps on your skin. Breath in dust and you may have more serious symptoms like difficulty breathing or even a severe asthma attack. Source: www.cellsalive.com/mite.htm More information mites