A couple weeks ago a story was circulating on social media about oak mites in the Cleveland area. Reports indicated that people were being bitten by the mites and that the bites could cause startling skin reactions. It sparked quite a bit of discussion and concern in social circles, giving me the inspiration to write about the tiny critters.
The oak leaf itch mite (pictured below), Pyemotes herfsi, is a mite that primarily feeds on midge flies. Midge flies create galls (also pictured below) on the margins of oak leaves, where their larvae feed and grow. The mites colonize the galls and feed on the larvae. This feeding pattern makes the oak mite preferential to oak trees, particularly pin oaks and red oaks. The mites are so tiny that they cannot be seen by the naked eye. The interaction between oak mites and humans occurs when a person comes near an infested oak tree. The mites may fall from the tree’s canopy or be blown from the tree by the wind, inadvertently landing on a passerby. Then mites may accidently bite the person. Humans are not a host for these mites. They will not colonize in homes or cars or on pets.
The oak mite’s bite can produce an itchy, swollen, and red rash that may be accompanied by small raised bumps. The bites themselves do not leave lasting damage, but itching the irritating rash could lead to a secondary bacterial infection. Therefore, calamine lotions and hydrocortisone creams are often recommended to reduce inflammation and itching.
The mites are most active in late summer and into the fall. Most people encounter them while raking leaves. Controlling the mite population is difficult and rarely accomplished, because the mites find protection within the leaf galls created by the midge flies. The best way to avoid the mites is to limit time near infested trees, launder clothes, and shower promptly after working near the tree.
There have been reports of the oak leaf itch mites in the Southeastern Ohio region, but there is no need to panic. They mite populations will begin to die off with the first frost. In addition, the midge flies and the mites rarely have a detrimental impact on the overall health of oak trees in the landscape.
I think I’ve been bitten my oak itch mites this week in NE Ohio. I live in northern Summit County, in Richfield OH. Have you had any reports?
Hello Kitty, I just spoke with a gentleman who lives in the Columbus area who believes he has encounter them recently. The good news is, frost is almost here. It seems that with our mild winter this past year, pressure was fairly high. Forecasters are predicting a different winter for us in 2017-2018, so maybe next year won’t be as itchy.
I have not had any reports this summer. You may want to let your Summit County ANR Educator know of your suspicion. Her name is Jacqueline Kowalski and her email is kowalski.124@osu.edu.
I’ve been working in my yard and barn next door. Two years ago I had about 10 bites on my stomach that I thought were flea bites. I went to Stat Care only to find out that they thought we had bed bugs. We did NOT. Two years later I’ve got them again, on my stomach region, and I am miserable! We have oak trees in my yard and in the pasture next door. After reading this and a few other articles I am now convinced this is what is my problem. THANK YOU for this article
Happy to bring you some peace of mind!
well, us cyclist in NOE have been pestered by these mite for two seasons now. Last late summer/fall was miserable. The spring had us with a recurrence that subsided, this only to lead to a pretty good event this fall.
They are baaaaack!
Oh well, the way I have rationalized it is that I lived near the ocean and I didn’t avoid the ocean knowing that sharks were always underneath; how could I possibly be detracted from cycling the Metroparks for this microscopic mite. All I can say is BLIMEY!
I know this is an old post and the comments are years old, but hopefully someone will see this and respond back. I live outside of Cleveland and convinced that I get bit by these every summer while at a local softball field. The bite itself is similar and so are the symptoms, in fact, I’ve had to get medical treatment over the years for the uncontrollable itching they cause. One year it was so bad that I scratched myself a nasty infection, which was prior to me identifying the culprit. Trust me when I say, I’ve done extensive research and 100% confident that I’m being bit by these SOB’s! Im well educated and believe me when I say, everything I’ve read, every doctor I’ve seen, and every arborist or nature expert has agreed with my research.
That said, my question centers around their habit. I realize they are common in Oak Trees, but the ONLY place I get bit is at the softball fields and only while I’m sitting under a Honey Locust Tree, NOT an Oak Tree as suggested. Therefore I’m wondering if there is any data to show they live in other trees as well, specifically in a Honey Locust Tree?
Sorry for the lengthy comment and semi-arrogant comments, but I just want to ensure everyone that I’ve done my due diligence and not looking to entertain alternative hypotheses quite frankly.
Hope to hear back from someone!
Cheers from the North Coast!
Hello Matt!
I won’t say no. There are many types of mites that could potentially be inhabiting a honey locus tree and could potentially be irritating to your skin if they fall out or are blown out of a tree. Most commonly, spider mites. I have not heard of oak leaf itch mites inhabiting honey locusts, but without examination of specimens from that tree looked at under a microscope, we cannot really say. I do say, if you are detecting a pattern with skin irritation and that honey locust, I would sit out of range of the honey locust to watch the ball games in the future if you can!
Sincerely,
Christine
My wife suffers an allergic reaction to what we believe are these oak gall mites. Face, lips and skin puff up very badly. 2020 was horrible and this year, 2023 is just as bad. I seem to be unaffected. No itching, no bites, nothing. She will not go outside until single digits freezes. Western New York, 2 beautiful pin oaks up wind of our home.