Oak Mites: How To Get Rid Of Them?

Oak mites are a type of mite that feeds on oak trees. So oak mites: how to get rid of them? But before that, let’s have some ideas about mites. Oak mites cause painful and itchy bites and can rapidly breed and spread from tree to tree. Oak mites are also responsible for spreading other pests, including ticks and spiders.

There are several ways to eliminate oak mites, including chemical treatments, cultural controls, and biological controls. As you may know, oak mites are a problem because they cause an allergic reaction in humans. 

Continue reading to learn more about oak mites and get rid of them.

What does an oak mite look like?

Oak mites are a type of mite that feeds on oak trees. They are difficult to see with the naked eye because they are so small.

Oak Mites

Still, they have a shiny exoskeleton, and their legs are located two anteriorly and the other two posteriorly. Females are large because of an elongated abdomen for offspring, which can number 250.

How long do oak mites live?

Mites are parasitic on various arthropods, and one common host in America is the larva of a tiny fly known as Oak Gall Midge. Male mites are first to be hatched from eggs, and they will travel to find a female.

Female mites lay their eggs on the leaves of plants, where the larvae will hatch and feed off the plant.

Oak mites are tiny, invisible creatures that get blown into humans while trying to feed. Unfortunately, their saliva has potent enzymes that cause inflammation. The chemicals can exacerbate this in their saliva.

Do oak mites burrow in your skin?

Oak itch mites are tiny creatures that burrow into the skin. Once burrowed in, the body creates a tube around the area and itches. The bites show up on the skin within 10 to 12 hours of being bitten.

Oak Mites: How to Get Rid of them?

Tick (Ixodes ricinus) waiting for its victim on a grass blade - parasite potentionally carrying dangerous diseases

Oak mites are a common pest found in many parts of the world. Unfortunately, there are not a lot of products to get rid of them. Oak mites feed on the larvae of midge fly, which is easy to get rid of. You can remove midge fly larvae by spraying an insecticide or bait traps.

Use Essential Oils

Oak mites are attracted to oak trees, where they lay their eggs. The eggs hatch into midges, which in turn become wasps. These wasps then lay more eggs on the tree, starting the cycle again.

You can use essential oils to repel the midges and wasps to prevent this from happening. Lavender, eucalyptus, and citronella are all effective essential oils.

Although it is difficult to completely spray an essential oil solution onto a massive oak tree, mix two cups of water with 10-20 drops of essential oil and spray the mixture around the oak tree and directly on the leaves.

It will help repel midges from the trees. Wear protective gear and be cautious when using essential oils near open flames.

Remove Oak Tree Galls By Hand

Oak mites are a type of mite that lives on oak trees. They can cause damage to the tree by creating galls, which are abnormal growths on the tree. If you have an oak tree and notice these galls, you can remove them by hand.

Be sure to wear appropriate clothing to avoid getting bitten by the mites, and clean and discard the galls in a sealed plastic bag when you’re done.

Try Using Apple Cider Vinegar And Dish Soap To Kill Midges

To kill oak mites way to try and eradicate them is by using apple cider vinegar. Mix the AVC with some water and pour it into bowls. Place these bowls around your oak trees, and the midges will be attracted to the vinegar, eventually killing them.

To assist dissolve the surface tension of the vinegar and make it more efficient in killing the midges, add a few drops of dish soap to the kill mites mixture.

Oak mite bites symptoms (Oak Leaf Itch Mites Bite)

Oak mite bites symptoms (Oak Leaf Itch Mites Bite)

Oak mites are a type of mite that feeds on oak trees. They can also bite humans, leading to a reaction similar to a mosquito bite. An oak mite bite symptoms include welts with a central blister that appears 10-16 hours after the bite.

A red area often surrounds the vesicle. Scratching can easily lead to secondary infection. Oak mites do not infest beds or homes.

Oak mites are tiny red bugs that can bite humans and cause itchy, red welts. The bites usually last for days to weeks, and the welts may disappear in a few days to a few weeks.

Mites come into your home on the clothing or pet of someone who has been outside, but these mites will not live more than 24 hours without feeding.

How to treat oak mite bites and rashes at home?

How to treat oak mite bites and rashes at home?

Oak mites can cause itchy bites. If you have been bitten, you can do a few things to help relieve the itch and avoid any potential infection.

First, remove and wash all of your clothes as soon as possible. Avoid scratching the bite area if possible, and take a shower after removing your clothes to help with the itching. 

Oak mites are tiny bugs that can cause a lot of skin irritation. The usual symptoms are redness, itchiness, and swelling. There are several ways to treat oak mite bites:

  • Taking other antihistamines such as Benadryl can help reduce the symptoms.
  • Applying cortisone cream to the affected area cushions inflammation and reduces pain.
  • Using calamine lotion soothes skin irritation and itchiness.
  • Take an over-the-counter medication such as Claritin and take it daily.
  • If the bite is itchy, topical cream or ointment containing hydrocortisone is applied up to four times daily.

How to prevent oak trees mite bites?

Oak mites are a type of mite that feeds on oak trees. They can also bite humans, causing an itchy rash. While they are most commonly found on oak trees, they can be found on other vegetation types.

You can do a few things to prevent getting bitten by oak mites, including keeping windows closed and insect repellent.

Conclusion

Oakleaf itch mites are small, barely detectable creatures that can cause a great deal of damage to oak trees. Female mites grow in size after they have fed, becoming as large as a small pea. Male mites remain the same size throughout their life cycle.

The chemical treatment is not recommended for most circumstances unless the pests infest stored grains. If this is the case, the infested grain is removed, or the hay barn must be fumigated.

About the author

A biotechnologist by profession and a passionate pest researcher. I have been one of those people who used to run away from cockroaches and rats due to their pesky features, but then we all get that turn in life when we have to face something.