Grass mites are annoying animals that can become a real nuisance during the warm summer months. It is not uncommon for children or pets to suddenly complain of itching after running around in the meadow. In most cases, bite injuries are caused by the grass mite.
Detecting stitches
Bites from the autumn mite lead to so-called harvest scabies in most people, which is also known as gooseberry disease. A bite does not cause pain and is usually not immediately noticed. After the larva has fallen from the bite site, it can take up to 24 hours for the first symptoms to appear.
The bite creates numerous reddish spots that are reminiscent of small mosquito bites. Frequent scratching causes the bite wounds to swell into wheals. The symptoms subside after about ten to 14 days. The symptoms are similar in animals. If pets scratch each other incessantly and the dog licks its paws, an infestation by autumn mites may be a possibility. Horses also suffer from severe itching. They scratch at every opportunity, causing weeping spots, crusted wounds and inflammation.
From bite to wheal:
- Larva bites the skin
- Saliva secretions are injected
- Nodule formation at the injection site
- Nodules enlarge into vesicles
- Scratching the blisters leads to subsequent infection
Different skin reactions
Some people experience an extreme rash that resembles an allergy. The wheals can appear on the entire body, even if the larva has only sucked in one area. These extreme forms cause severe itching of the skin. Some people hardly show any symptoms. There are people who become desensitized after an initial infestation. If the infestation occurs again, there will be no more symptoms.
While for some the grass mite bites become badly infected, for others they are just small red spots
Affected body areas
The larvae prefer moist, warm areas of the body where the skin is particularly thin. Armpits or skin folds on the stomach or in the intimate area are among the commonly affected areas, but legs, scalp and ears are also occasionally affected. The arachnids also feel comfortable under tight-fitting clothing, so they also settle under the edges of socks, underwear or the waistband of trousers.
In dogs, the parasites often settle on the legs, stomach, chest and ears. They can also affect the paws as the dogs roam through the vegetation. Cats often suffer from bites to their temples and ears. The mites also appear on the tip of the tail and remain on the animal's skin for several days.
Fighting grass mites
To protect against grass mites in the garden, you should mow the lawn regularly and keep it moist. Under wet conditions, the mites retreat into the ground and no longer pose a danger to people and animals. Remove the grass clippings from the area so that the arachnids are deprived of their livelihood. If you know that grass mites live on your lawn, you should burn the grass clippings or dispose of them with general waste.
Pyrethrum as a natural insecticide
Pyrethrins are natural substances that are contained in various plants and have an insecticidal effect. The substance affects the nervous system. The Dalmatian insect flower (Tanacetum cinerariifolium or Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium) is called the insect powder plant for a reason, because it develops two different pyrethrins and is used for the production of biological pesticides. The active ingredient is contained in Neudorff's tick and grass mite concentrate and can be applied to the lawn to combat grass mites.
Disadvantages of natural insecticide:
- Ingredients also kill beneficial insects
- slightly skin irritating
- irritate eyes and mucous membranes
- fatal poisoning of humans and pets possible
Treat lawn with home remedies
Fertilize your lawn regularly with nettle manure or neem tea. Mix a small cup of neem oil or nettle decoction with five liters of water and apply the solution to the grass mite nests. The arachnids are usually not distributed over large areas, but rather stay in certain places with optimal conditions. Use a white cloth to locate the nests.
Tip
You can also dab the nests with 70 percent alcohol so that as many of the larvae as possible die. But be careful: this can also damage plants and useful creatures.
Verticutting
If your lawn tends to form moss, you should scarify the area thoroughly in spring. This loosens up the turf and removes thatch and dense moss cushions in which grass mites thrive. In the well-ventilated sward there are suboptimal conditions for the spread of the arachnids. Then fertilize the lawn so that the grass can prevail over the moss.
Tip
Fertilization with lime and nitrogen is said to have helped one or two hobby gardeners in the fight against the grass mite plague. Apply the fertilizer on a dry day after mowing in early May.
Treat bites on humans and animals
In adults, only the symptoms are treated, as the stitches usually disappear on their own. To relieve the itching, the doctor will prescribe ointments containing cortisone or anihistamine. To help the swelling go down, you can apply cooling compresses to the affected areas. Heat in the bed should be avoided in the first few hours after the symptoms appear, as it makes the itching even worse. If the puncture wound has become infected or bacteria appear, the doctor may use an antibiotic.
Medical Products for Pets
If the infestation has become large and your pet scratches tirelessly, medical treatment is essential. A visit to the vet is necessary at the latest when open or weeping wounds appear on the skin. The vet prescribes various remedies that specifically help against the pests.
| Shape | Effect | Application | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frontline | Spray, spot-on | insecticide, acaricide | external |
| Cetirizine | Tablets | against itching | internal |
| Sebacil | Solution | insecticide, acaricide | external: immersion bath |
Gentle shampoos for children and babies
The larvae often bite into the scalp of babies and small children, so that the entire head is covered in itchy redness. Gentle shampoos with willow bark extract provide relief for humans, dogs and cats. Willows contain salicin. This substance relieves itching and reduces inflammation. The scent of special shampoos has a deterrent effect on the arachnids. Herbal mixtures with willow bark and meadowsweet have also proven to be beneficial against grass mite bites in horses because they promote wound healing.
Mild and natural soaps for pets
If a dog or cat is infested with grass mite larvae all over their body, a long bath with special soap can help. The soaps should be free of synthetic additives and strong odors. Rose, sandalwood or sage nourish the skin. Nettle or marigold extract cleanses the fur and protects the skin and nose. Lather the soap with your hands and distribute the foam thoroughly over the fur and paws. Allow the soap to act briefly to scare away the larvae.
Tip
Place a bowl with a soap and water solution next to the front door. So you can clean the dog's fur with a cloth after every walk.
Treat grass mite bites with home remedies
If you or your child have been attacked by grass mites, you should immediately rub the reddened bite areas with 70 percent alcohol. This disinfects the area and ensures that no subsequent bacterial infections occur. Skin-friendly products from the kitchen, which can usually also be used on pets, are suitable for treating bites.
If the itching becomes unbearable, you can spread curd on the affected areas. The milk product has a cooling effect, which can relieve itching. It also promotes wound healing. You should avoid acidic products such as apple cider vinegar or lemon juice, as these further irritate the skin. In addition, their benefits have not been confirmed.
| Ingredients | Effect | for pets | for children | Application | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coconut oil | Lauric acid | deterrent, antimicrobial and nourishing | suitable | suitable | internal, external |
| Neem oil | Azadirachtin, essential oils | repellent, calming, anti-inflammatory | suitable for certain reasons: should not get into the mouth or nose | suitable for ages 4+ | external |
| Black cumin oil | unsaturated fatty acids, linoleic acids, essential oils | pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory | suitable | suitable | internal, external |
| Tea tree oil | essential oils | deterrent, fungicidal, antibacterial, antimicrobial | not suitable | suitable for ages 3+ | external |
Homeopathic and alternative treatment
If you trust homeopathic remedies to help with grass mites, you can use special globules. These represent an over-the-counter alternative to chemical medicines that can be used to treat symptoms naturally. The recommended dose is five globules taken three to eight times daily. Regular use should relieve itching and soothe severely inflamed skin.
These globules are used against itching:
- Cardiospermum: Balloon plant – D12 globules
- Apis mellifica: Honey bee – D6 globules
Amber
The fossil resin is considered an effective weapon for deterring grass mites. There are collars for dogs that release essential scents when rubbed, thereby scaring away the annoying arachnids. Other theories suggest that the friction causes the animal's fur to become electrically charged, thus driving away the mites. Many dog owners swear by the effect, although it has not been confirmed.
Preventing an infestation
Take your dog for a walk in the early morning hours, as the larvae are less active then. To protect yourself and your children, long clothing and high-top shoes should be worn. This means that the larvae have little opportunity to crawl onto the skin. Since long pants and sweaters are usually uncomfortable on hot summer days, you should take further preventative measures.
Children: sprays or creams
A good preventative measure is gentle, natural-based products that work against annoying insects. Rub your child's legs and arms with a skin-friendly anti-mosquito cream. Children often react sensitively to essential oils, which is why the products should not have too strong a scent. It is also said to help to rub the skin with the palm of your hand every half hour. Since the larvae do not bite hard immediately when they land on the skin, they can be removed by rubbing.
Excursus
Citronella and eucalyptus oil
Both oils contain essential fragrances that have a deterrent effect on grass mites. Applying it to the skin ensures preventive protection that can last up to five hours. But the oils should not be used on children. Breathing problems and skin irritation may occur.
Double-sided tape
Reliable crawling protection against grass mites is white adhesive tape that has adhesive surfaces on both sides. Stick a strip over the upper of the shoe so that it goes completely around it. If the animals get on the shoe and crawl up, they stick to the tape and die. To be on the safe side, you can also wrap your wrist with tape. However, when children roll around in the grass, this preventative measure reaches its limits.
Pets: feeding brewer's yeast
Many pet owners swear by brewer's yeast as a natural means of preventing grass mite infestation, even though its effectiveness has not been scientifically proven. The B vitamins contained in it are said to be responsible for the positive effect, as they accumulate in the subcutaneous tissue and change the smell of the skin. This change in smell is not perceived by humans, which probably led to doubts about its effect. Grass mites are supposed to detect the smell, making the host unattractive.
Good to know:
- should be fed daily
- suitable for dogs, cats and horses
- Taste reminds of cheese
- Dogs and cats are fed one gram per ten kilograms of body weight every day
About the animal
Behind the pest known as the grass mite is a type of walking mite that has the scientific name Neotrombicula autumnalis. It has nothing to do with the actual grass mite (Bryobia graminum), which feeds mainly on plant juices. The dreaded grass mite is a parasitic mite that targets animal and human hosts. Their bites can cause severe itching combined with skin redness.
Other names for the grass mite and their meaning:
- Autumn mite: Indication of season in which it becomes a nuisance
- Harvest mite: mainly occurs during harvest
- Hay mite: In the past, farmers were often bitten while making hay
Lifestyle
Adult animals become active in April when the weather is favorable. They colonize the base of the stems of grasses and mosses in order to suck the plant sap out of the ducts. When heavy rainfall occurs, the walking mites retreat up to half a meter into the ground. They prefer dry weather, but can hardly survive in low humidity.
The larva lives on the tips of moss pads and blades of grass. It can climb to a height of between five and 20 centimeters to wait for a suitable host. Grass mite larvae parasitize organisms whose body temperature is between 30 and 40 degrees Celsius. They mainly target birds, rodents and domestic animals, which besiege them for several days. Mice in particular are affected by these annoying pests.
Humans also fall into the prey pattern of grass mites, even though they are not one of the main hosts. The mite larvae only stay on humans for a few hours to suck lymph and cell juices.
This is what happens when you bite:
- Mouthparts scratch skin
- Saliva secretions, which dissolve the tissue, enter the wound
- Rarely capillaries are injured and blood is sucked
Development
Depending on the weather, arachnids reproduce in warm seasons between spring and autumn. They can occur from April to October, with their peak season in Europe being between July and October. The non-parasitic females lay their eggs on the ground, from which larvae hatch after four weeks. The development of a larva into an adult occurs over three nymphal stages.
After the newly hatched larvae have fed themselves, they drop from the host and go into a resting state and then shed their skin several times. Adult mites survive the winter. They protect themselves against frost by retreating 60 to 90 centimeters deep into the ground. If the larvae hatch late in the year, they can also survive in the substrate.
What do grass mites look like?
The larvae cannot be seen with the naked eye because they grow to a maximum size of 0.3 millimeters. Its body is flattened at the rear end, colored orange-red and has a broad shield on its back. This is pentagonal in shape and covered with sensory hairs and feathery bristles. The six-legged larvae have long hair that they use for groping. The insects can perceive their surroundings with two double eyes. They have powerful jaws that each end in a claw.
Adult mites reach a size of two millimeters. Her body is strongly constricted behind the shoulder and is colored intensely red. The back is densely covered with bristles. Unlike the larvae, the adult mites move with eight legs. These have bristly hair and each have two claws that are used to hold on.
Where grass mites feel comfortable
Once the arachnids have gained a foothold in one location, they are difficult to get rid of. However, this only applies to natural habitats that offer dry and warm conditions for autumn mites.
Natural Occurrence
The name grass mite indicates its habitat. The arachnid is widespread throughout the world and inhabits open landscapes with low vegetation. In addition to meadows and agricultural areas, this also includes gardens, which is why garden owners can also be bitten. Grass mites prefer regions with warm temperatures. In the Rhineland and in parts of Hesse and Bavaria, the population density of the pests is very high.
Garden
Grass mites can be introduced into the garden by supplying fresh topsoil. Before you order soil, you should find out more about the region. Choose sources that are outside the main distribution areas. Grass mites can also enter the garden through domestic and wild animals or birds.
Warblers love bright and warm surfaces, which is why they like to crawl on white paper.
Apartment and house
Although the arachnids can enter the home through clothing or in the fur of pets, you don't have to worry about pests spreading throughout the home. If the mites drop and land on the floor after sucking, they do not find ideal living conditions. They die after a short time.
So that no grass mites get into the house:
- wash worn clothes in hot water
- Vacuate floors and carpets thoroughly
- Soap your body and shower off
- Clean shoes
Frequently asked questions
At what temperature do grass mites die?
Grass mites have adapted to life on the surface of the soil. They look for areas where the small-scale climate is optimal. The larvae prefer temperatures between 16 and 25 degrees Celsius, but the arachnids slowly become active at temperatures of ten degrees and above. If temperatures between 35 and 40 degrees Celsius prevail over a longer period of time, the larvae try to escape. However, the microscopically small creatures can survive temperatures of up to 45 degrees, as long as these only last for a short time.
As soon as temperatures drop into the single digits, the living creatures retreat into the protective ground. The substrate usually does not freeze completely, so the grass mites survive the winter in a dormant state.
How long do grass mites live?
There is no clear information about the exact lifespan of the autumn mite. The larvae need several weeks to develop into adults. Even if the arachnids can overwinter, it is not certain whether a female will survive for several generations.
How long do grass mites survive in the apartment?
Grass mites and their larvae require comparatively high humidity to survive. On average, the humidity between the leaves and blades of grass is around 70 percent. The larvae feel particularly comfortable here. However, they must be able to survive short-term fluctuations. On the host, the arachnids first have to crawl into the protected areas so that they are exposed to lower humidity.
In apartments, the humidity is usually between 40 and 60 percent. Although grass mites find optimal temperatures indoors, they cannot survive for more than ten to 20 hours at a relative humidity of 50 percent.
Do grass mites survive in bed?
There is no risk of settlement in the bed, as this environment does not correspond to the natural habitat. Unlike house dust mites, the larvae of autumn mites die after a short time and cannot develop further. Adult grass mites do not look for hosts and usually do not come into the home. If they do get lost there, they won't survive long in the unnatural environment.
Are grass mites transferable from animals to humans?
Grass mite infestations are usually not contagious. Once the arachnids have found a suitable host, they bite on specific areas of the body. After they are full, they fall down to go to rest. This prevents a new host change from pets to humans. An infestation by the mite larva only occurs when there is direct contact with the mite source.