Oak leaf itch mites - Ask Extension
I think this is the insect that is in some leaves by my house.
They bite.
Do I want to clear the nest?
Knowledgebase
Oak leaf itch mites #936343
Asked June 22, 2026, 11:46 AM EDT
I think this is the insect that is in some leaves by my house.
They bite.
Do I want to clear the nest?
Montgomery County Maryland
Expert Response
Mites living in oak foliage would not be in the fallen leaves, but in the canopy on living foliage. Do you have a photo of what you're seeing in terms of a suspected pest or location that's causing problems? If you think something causing skin irritation is in a pile of fallen tree/shrub leaves lying near the house foundation, then clear them a foot or two away from the building or compost them. Clover mites can be abundant when lawns are fairly new, and they sometimes enter homes in areas adjacent to the lawn, but they do not bite. Bird mites may also enter a home by accident, but they perish soon after they leave the bird's nest, especially in a drier (less humid) home environment; in that case, you would remove any unoccupied bird nests that may be sitting directly against a house wall or roof eave.
Miri
Miri
