Nest Mites

[Elmo]

Im starting to see the martins building nests. When would be a good time to treat for mites, and is there any other product that works other than Severin?

[flyin-lowe]

People have different trains of thought on mites, here is what has worked for me. A day or two before eggs are due to start hatching I put a small amount of 7 under the edge of each nest. The 7 will take care of any existing mites, and assuming your nests stay dry the 7 will have enough residual effect to keep the mite load down until the nestlings fledge. I have done it this way for around 15 years and never noticed a big mite load. I have seen gourds at other colonies who don't treat and they are just crawling with mites. I might see a few mites by the end of the season in real humid weather but not enough to cause jumpers.

[CTMartins]

Swap out the nesting material is my plan this year.

[Conrad Baker]

Swap out the nesting material is my plan this year.

Does that help? I was concerned with the mites and/or mite eggs that remain after a nest change? There has to be some that are still in the housing in the crevices or just crawling around. I cautiously use the Sevin, and have not had any mite issues.

[C.C.Martins]

Swap out the nesting material is my plan this year.

Does that help? I was concerned with the mites and/or mite eggs that remain after a nest change? There has to be some that are still in the housing in the crevices or just crawling around. I cautiously use the Sevin, and have not had any mite issues.

Interesting! Don't know how they survive, or it was mite eggs but was working on my neighbors gourds in Nov, found mites. We had treated them with sevin during the season, don't know where they were hiding. First time iv seen that.

[CTMartins]

Swap out the nesting material is my plan this year.

Does that help? I was concerned with the mites and/or mite eggs that remain after a nest change? There has to be some that are still in the housing in the crevices or just crawling around. I cautiously use the Sevin, and have not had any mite issues.

Birds dont have pesticides in the wild and they got lotta nests. However PM nests are enclosed.

Haematophagous mites have several strategies for feeding. Some skin mites burrow into the bird’s skin particularly around the legs, feet and bill, sometimes causing what is known as “scaly leg.” Other species are only parasitic during certain life stages, where the adult may be a peaceful nest-dweller, but the juvenile stage requires skin-burrowing parasitism. Most other species simply attach temporarily to the birds’ skin with their mouthparts to feed, and then return to the nest or feathers.

There is also a huge diversity of mites that live on or in feathers, dubbed “plumicolous” mites; however, little is known about them other than their diet. Contrary to what you might think, these mites do not eat the feathers (although there are some lice species that do). Rather, they feed on oil, pollen, and fungi that are found on the feathers. These mites may therefore be considered somewhat beneficial to the birds through their free cleaning services;
Changing nesting material Here's some natural methods.

- some bird species even use aromatic foliage in their nests, which act as a fumigant. Sunning and dust-bathing may also help birds rid themselves of mites.

- Make a homemade bird mite spray by mixing a few drops of neem oil in water and using it in parasitic places. You can use neem oil to make traps to eliminate these pests. Peppermint Oil - Mix peppermint is an important oil with tea tree and (a spice) oil to make a powerful bird mite spray that kills away them.
-Mix white vinegar with a few drops of your preferred essential oil (peppermint is ideal) and pour it into a spray bottle. This solution is safe for farm and poultry animals. Spray Listerine directly to the infested area. It has a menthol ingredient that safely repels and eliminates many bugs.

[Jones4381]

I'll be using Neem oil this year even though I've never seen any mites. It works wonderfully in my garden and it's nature's pesticide. Good luck.

[Conrad Baker]

Yes, I have heard about Neem oil being used for pest control. There is a local garden show on the radio here on Saturdays, Dr. Dan Gill speaks of using Neem oil to repel pests from plants. I have never used it, so I can't say how effective it is. It seems nest changes can certainly be beneficial. I am concerned with disturbing the occupants, especially the babies, doing a nest change. I'm thinking I will just continue to treat the housing with Sevin as the need arises. It is a lot easier, and quicker too. I don't want to cause too much commotion at the housing when the parents are trying to feed the young ones.

[Thomabear]

Does anyone have experience with neem oil in nests? I've had very little success using it in my garden. I suppose it helps with the easy to kill insects, but the tougher insects seem to laugh at it. This year I pre-dipped all compartments in Bifenthrin (which is safe for birds after drying) and have yet to see a mite, although they usually tend to show up later in the season.

[Martintown33]

I treated all nests today with a little bit of sevin… I treat after the eggs are laid, and put a very small amount UNDER the sides of the nests. I lift the sides up with my finger and , slide a very small amount underneath, with a spoon, then smear it around a bit. The nests are at least 2 inches thick, and I feel that putting a little bit under the sides , on the compartment floor is as safe a way to use it. There is no way the martins can come in direct contact with it, because of the thickness off the nests. If the nests aren’t at least 2 inches thick, then I slide pine needles underneath the finished nest, which thickens it up without changing the top surface of the finished nests. And since the nests are finished, the martins won’t be pushing around or weaving any more nest material in it, leaving the sevin , underneath, undisturbed, and not touched by the martins… I use this method on my Martin houses, with 6x12 compartments.. .this method is harder to do with gourds, but I use mostly Martin houses, with some gourds..
Good luck,
Rob

[Conrad Baker]

Martintown33, I do the same. In fact, I have eggs in most compartments now, and will add a little Sevin to the nests, but just a little under the nests as you described.

[Spiderman]

First tip is buy a new container of 5% Sevin dust each year.

I put a small amount of Sevin in the nests when I add pine straw. Some of the Martins will have mites when they arrive.

I also add a small amount when the fledglings have enough feathers to not be pink anymore. Then just spot treat when I’m doing nest checks if I see any others (usually not).

[Dave Duit]

An alternative pesticide to sevin is call AIL or Avian Insect Liquidator. You can buy it online as ready to spray or use the concentrated option and read instructions on the mix with water if using concentrated form. It is highly effective and safe for use on birds. It is sometimes difficult to find on the internet.

[John Barrow]

The name "Sevin" is the trade name of the company that has manufactured the dust used in very small quantities by hundreds of landlords to effectively treat mite outbursts in nest boxes. The active ingredient used by Sevin in the past has been "5% Carbaryl Dust". Last year Sevin changed its active ingredient, but continued using virtually the same container to market the new product. The only difference in marketing is a flag on their container that previously read controls 65 insects; that now reads controls 100 insects. The active ingredient is two fold and apparently stronger. I have read a discussion indicating that the primary new active ingredient would be safe for use in mite control; however, a secondary ingredient might impose health risks. That discussion focused on the necessity to seek alternate products by focusing on the active ingredient 5% Carbaryl Dust.
Amazon is currently selling a product called by that name, and other sources might be found via a Google search. There are others that have been able to locate some of the old stock of Sevin at stores that previously carried it. Look for that "controls 65 insects flag" on the Sevin container.

[Stingray]

I've been a martin landlord for 19 years.
When I first started with the martins, I didn't know about the Sevin Dust and had an infestation with a few jumpers.
Since then, I've used Sevin Dust and have had no issues with mites.
I apply it under the nests when the season begins and again after eggs are laid and with young in the nest.
I use a tablespoon to apply it around the nests. I also put some on the porches.
The adults get it on their feet as they enter the gourds.
Absolutely no mites issues since I started using Sevin dust.
I am a big believer in it.

[Martintown33]

Hi Stingray.. I too use very small amount of sevin under the nest and it works great for mite control. I’m just not sure that putting it on the porches is necessary. As you know, the martins use their feet to scratch and preen themselves. If the sevin is on their feet, then it will get on their feathers when they scratch themselves. They also use their beaks to preen their feathers, thus allowing for the sevin on their feathers, to get into their mouths and be digested. Not trying to tell you what to do, but I think you are in good shape with using it just under the nest.. hope I’m not being intrusive..
Good luck,
Rob

[Stingray]

Hi Stingray.. I too use very small amount of sevin under the nest and it works great for mite control. I’m just not sure that putting it on the porches is necessary. As you know, the martins use their feet to scratch and preen themselves. If the sevin is on their feet, then it will get on their feathers when they scratch themselves. They also use their beaks to preen their feathers, thus allowing for the sevin on their feathers, to get into their mouths and be digested. Not trying to tell you what to do, but I think you are in good shape with using it just under the nest.. hope I’m not being intrusive..
Good luck,
Rob

Rob,
I appreciate your suggestion.
I've been applying the Sevin dust this way for almost two decades with only positive results. It has worked well for me.
Thanks again.


Regards,

[Muffen02]

You could use diatomaceous earth. It is safe for you and the birds.

[white-out]

Just an observation I made the first year I used sevin applied under the nesting material. It was one of those funny looking days with overcast skies, I started lowering the rack. From the vibration I could see the dust falling from the bottom holes in the horizontal gourds and drifting down on me..............................

[Conrad Baker]

You could use diatomaceous earth. It is safe for you and the birds.

I had read that the diatomaceous earth causes lung irritation to babies and parents when the birds flap their wings inside the compartment. The wing movement gets the earth to float around and get inhaled by the birds.