Ear mites are tiny parasitic insects that live on the surface of human and animal ears. They feed on skin cells, oil, and ear wax. At times ear mites can suck blood as well to sustain themselves. However, mites can survive without nutrition. So, how long do ear mites live without a host?
Ear mites can live for a few days to months without a host. The minimum it can live without a meal is four days to two weeks. After an ear mite moves out of the ear canal, it will begin looking for a host, and during that time, it will live in the environment.
The article further explains the problems caused by ear mites in pet animals and the tips and tricks to eliminate them from the house.
Can Ear Mites Live In An Environment?
Ear mites cannot survive for long in the environment. It takes at least four weeks to eliminate ear mite infestation from the buildings. The severe infestation will take more time to heal.
Ear mites only survive on the host ear skin cells, ear oils, and waxes. Outside the host body, it has no nutrition. Therefore, survival becomes very hard. It will look for warm places to hide in the environment until it finds the next host.
Adult ear mites can live for at least four days without a host. The maximum an ear mite can survive without nutrition is six weeks in the environment.
Do Ear Mites Need A Host To Survive?
Ear mites cannot survive for long outside the host body. It moves from an infected animal to an uninfected animal or infected human to another human via close contact.
Ear mites sustain on ear tissues and blood. They require good nutrition to live, and without a host, they will have no meals. Therefore, without a host, ear mites will not live long.
When an infected animal dies from severe ear mites infestation, the mites move out within a few hours in search of a new host, as their previous host can no longer provide them with nutrition.
With a good nutrient supply, ear mites can live for two months in the host body. During this time, it continually reproduces. It is estimated that one ear mite can lay up to 140 eggs within a month. Without a host body, ear mites cannot lay many eggs, and neither lives for long.
How Long Can Ear Mites Live On Bedding?
East mites can live in bedding for 4 to 6 days without a host till they find a new host. It mainly happens when you share a room or bed with your infected pet animal. An ear mite can crawl out of the infected animal and will look for warm and comfortable places to live until it finds another host.
The bedding and the carpet provide an ideal environment for ear mites to survive without a host. Ear mites are microscopic and barely visible to the naked eye. They are the size of a pin head and are transparent until they feed on the blood.
Therefore, it might be slightly complicated to detect the presence of ear mites on the bed. They will appear brown and will usually crawl around at night. There is a high chance that your infected pet is shedding this small nightmare around the house.
How Do You Know When Ear Mites Are Gone?
Ear mites do not have a long lifetime, with the host or without a host. However, they lay more than 200 eggs in its life. In chronic infestation, the number of ear mites can be a hundred in one ear canal of the infected animal.
With proper medications and good care of pet animals, you can eliminate mite infestation in animals within three weeks. It can take a little more time for itching to subside in the cats.
It takes a few days to weeks and maybe months to eradicate the ear mite infestation in homes, especially when you have infected animals. The initial step must be the treatment of the animal, followed by measures to eliminate ear mites from the house.
Why Do Ear Mites Keep Coming Back?
Ear mites lay many eggs in life. These eggs hatch within a few days. Therefore, the infection keeps coming until the infected animal is healed, which can take a month or more.
When you do not provide treatment for sufficient time, new mites hatch out, and the cycle will repeat. In chronic infestation, the ear mites can move from one animal to another. Therefore, it is alarming when you have two or more pets.
The ear mites hiding inside your home can move into an uninfected animal, causing the infection. To decrease the chances of reinfection, isolate the animal immediately. Regular vet visit also prepares you ahead for the infestation.
How Long Can Ear Mite Eggs Survive?
It is beyond the ability to see an ear mite’s eggs with the naked eye. One female ear mite lays at least five eggs per day. It takes four days for the egg to hatch into six-legged larvae.
The larvae feed for three to ten days to become protonymphs. It eventually takes 21 days for the mite larvae to become fully mature adults.
Eggs are more vulnerable than mature ear mites, and larvae are more exposed than eggs. Most of the treatment options are highly effective against eggs and larvae.
The eggs will die within a few days of the treatment. Eggs laid outside the body cannot survive for long as they have limited nutrients available to become mature ear mites.
How Do You Stop Ear Mites From Spreading?
Pet animals’ especially cats are more prone to ear mite infestation. To stop ear mite infections from spreading, take some preventive measures, especially when you own a pet cat or dog. If your pet animal has a mite infection, follow the tips below.
- Regular vet visits and monthly ear cleaning appointments keep you safe from chronic ear mite infestation.
- Isolate the infected animal immediately. It does not mean keeping it in a cage all the time, as it can cause distress to the poor animal.
- Discard all the pet bedding and stuffed toys. If you cannot discard the things, wash them with hot water.
- If you own multiple pets, prevent them from playing together or staying too close as mites spread from one animal to another.
- Gently clean the infected animal ears. It will remove all the debris and the eggs from the ear.
- Then give the infected pet animal a good water shower.
- Never use anything from your own inside the animal ear, as it can cause an adverse reaction.
How Do I Clean My House After Ear Mites?
Ear mites can crawl from the infected animal ear to the outside environment in search of another host. During this time, they take refuge in warm and humid places inside the homes, like bedding, carpets, cushions, curtains, and towels.
The tiny parasite cannot survive for long without a host. But ear mites lay several eggs in their life which hatch within a day and can find the host. It is necessary to clean the house when you have animals or when your infected pet animal has recovered.
Follow the tips below to get rid of ear mite infestation.
- Vacuum the entire house at least twice a day. Vigorous vacuuming is essential to kill mature mites and their eggs from the bed and carpets.
- Spray insecticide around the house. Give special attention to the corners and upholstery.
- Use hot water to wash carpets, curtains, and bedding, including cushions and comfort covers.
- If required, send the carpets to the dry cleaners, as ear mites are more likely to hide inside the carpet fibers.
What Kills Ear Mites Instantly?
Essential oils and baby oil are effective against ear mite infestation. However, it is better to go for a doctor’s visit before using things available at home.
Gently clean the animal’s ear to remove all the gunk. Then using a dropper, put some oil inside the ear. Repeat this at least twice a day in a chronic infestation.
With regular use, the ear mite infestation will reduce significantly within a few days. The oil reduces friction for mites to crawl and decreases the nutrient supply.
Insecticide and frequent vacuuming are the best options to eliminate ear mite infestation from the house within a few days.
Conclusion
Ear mites cannot survive for long outside the host. It lives for only a few days without the nutrients from the host body. Ear mites survive only ear skin, oil, and wax. When it moves out of the infected animal body, it will eventually starve to death.
An infected animal spreads ear mites to humans and animals. It also sheds them inside the house. When your pet has an ear mite infestation, take it to the vet immediately and isolate it. Follow the measures mentioned in the article to keep pets and the house safe.
