[7] Proven Tips To Get Rid Of Wood Mites

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Most people would prefer not to share their homes with pests and rodents. Wood mites are a nuisance in many buildings, including houses, garages, and workshops, even though they are somewhat ugly, filthy, and dangerous. People who had wood mites in their homes were mostly concerned with how to get rid of wood mites.

Following are the ways to get rid of wood mites:

  • Tea Tree Oil
  • Rosemary Oil
  • Borax
  • ACV
  • Boric Acid
  • Baking Soda
  • Hypoaspis Mites

This article has a lot of information about wood mites. It talks about how to identify them, their different types, the difference between wood mites and termites, and many other related topics.

What are Wood Mites

Wood mites are incredibly tiny bugs that are white and resemble fleas. Outside, they’re mostly harmless, but if they get inside, they’re a nuisance. Even though they do not bite humans or animals and do not cause physical damage as termites do, wood mites are still unwelcome guests. Termites cause the destruction of buildings. Wood mites like places that are damp or have too much moisture.

Even though you can’t see wood mites with the naked eye, they have long body hairs that they shed often. Sometimes, these hairs move allergens around the house, making some people sick.

Difference Between Wood Mites And Termites

Both wood mites and termites attack wooden things and do a lot of damage. There are differences when it comes to the traits, the biological cycle, the habitat, and, most of all, the ways of fighting. Some quick observations can help figure out which pest is there.

Wood Mites

wood_mite
  • Mites belong to the order Acarina, which is sometimes known as the order of minute arachnids.
  • Wood mites make tiny holes that look like flickering flames in the wood.
  • They don’t leave dirt paths as a sign that they have been there.
  • They do not possess any wings at all. 
  • Wood mites are small in size.
  • Wood mites are mostly harmless bugs. 

Termites

termite
  • Wood-consuming termites are members of the Blattodea order of insects.
  • Termites eat the wood, but they leave the outermost part of the wood almost unharmed. 
  • Termites leave dirt paths as a sign that they have been there.
  • Termites have winged bodies.
  • Termites are a little bigger than wood mites.
  • Termites cause considerable structural damage.

Identification Of Wood Mites

Wood mites are also very tiny, which makes them hard to spot. So, many people don’t realize mites have bitten them until they see what looks like small bites.

Mite bites usually don’t hurt, but they can sometimes cause pain, swelling, and itching. Wood mites look like ticks and can be brown, white, or marked. These insects are translucent as well.

In terms of length, a wood mite is about 0.5 mm long. The threads they make and leave behind are the telltale signs that identify them as the perpetrators.

Wood mites indoors hide in the wood when they aren’t on their way to your plants. Ants and wood mites often leave trails that can be seen.

Signs Of Wood Mites

Wood mites resemble ticks in appearance. They might be white, tan, red, or brown and are typically transparent and speckled. However, diagnosing wood mites is challenging. Most of the time, you will know you have wood mites once they have spread a lot. However, they are not visible to the naked eye. Following are signs of wood mites:

  • Look for thin webs around their homes because that’s what they leave behind. 
  • These thin silk webs look a lot like spider webs but are usually thinner. 
  • Look for these signs near wood that is rotting, plants, flowers, or plants in pots. 
  • If you see thin silken webs around the house, wood mites may have already taken over in a big way.

From where Wood Mites Come?

Garden plants, indoor plants, and greenhouses are common places where wood mites can be found. Therefore, in addition to being brought in from the side yard or on the Tree, they can also make their way into your house on a house plant. Other possible entry points are the Tree and the wood pile.

Or if you have wood-burning stoves in your home, or if you just use wood, it is very likely that the wood mites in your home originated from the wood supply you keep outside or from the cords of wood you purchased from the hardware shop.

What Kinds of Things Are Infested by Wood Mites?

To get rid of wood mites, you need to get rid of what they eat and find where they hide. To find places where wood mites might be hiding, look for places with too much moisture, mold, rotting wood, dying seedlings, rotting natural materials, or other rotting organic material.

The first step in getting rid of mites is to find where they live. Like mold mites, wood mites dwell in dust and debris and eat damp wood.

Remove moisture from your flooring, kitchen cabinets, and pantry. If you live in a very humid area, you might want to install a dehumidifier. If you have a fireplace that burns wood, you might want to store your firewood in a container that can’t be opened. This will keep any mites from getting out. Clean up any bark or wood that has fallen around your fireplace regularly.

Wood Mites Bites

It can be difficult to identify the signs of a mite bite. When a wood mite bites or stings a person, it causes rashes on the legs, arms, and trunk. This is different from other insect bites or stings, which leave a single lump on the skin and a visible puncture site.

Even the symptoms you experience will change based on the type of mite that bit you. There are a few common symptoms that can help you differentiate a bite from a spider bite, for instance.

Signs that you may have been bitten by a mite include:

  • Skin lesions that seem like a rash and are red.
  • Mild lumps with the potential for hardening or inflammation.
  • Visible rash or bump followed by irritation, itching, and pain in the affected area.
  • The skin swelling, blistering, or peeling around the site of an insect bite, etc.
Wood Mites Bite

Preventing Wood Mites

Following are a few ways to prevent wood mites in your home:

Reduce Humidity

Wood mites like places that are damp or have too much moisture, but many homeowners skip this step when trying to prevent wood mites.

You need to get rid of the wood mold cavity and control the moisture in your home. Most of the humidity in your home comes from water leaks. Leaks can cause your walls, furniture, and floor to get damp.

Reduce the amount of moisture in the air by using a dehumidifier. If you have a basement, it’s especially important to use a dehumidifier there because basements often have more moisture than the upper floors of homes.

Deep Clean

You should vacuum your floors, couches, curtains, rugs, and even your cabinets. You’ll have to clean everything from top to bottom. Make sure to clean all the floors, carpets, rugs, mattresses, furniture, and the spaces between the floor and the baseboards. Make sure to also wash underneath rugs and furniture.

Use boiling water and your usual floor cleaner to mop the hard floors in your home. Hot water kills mites at every stage of their lives, including when they are eggs, larvae, and adults.

Filling Holes and Cracks

It’s possible that wood mites in your yard could leave if they sense an increase in competition for food. Then they start to get into your home through cracks and holes in the walls, glass panels, and door frames. You’ll need a suitable sealant like caulk, to fill in those cracks and holes.

Another helpful piece of advice is to trim back any vegetation that has become unmanageable around the outside of your house. Pests like wood mites and others can use overgrown plants to get into your home.

[7] Ways to Get Rid Of Wood Mites

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is one of the most popular essential oils people use to clean their homes and eliminate pests. TTO has several volatile chemicals, one of which acts as an excellent anti-mite pesticide that can kill wood mites on contact. It also kills the mite eggs. In vitro tests have shown that tea tree oil might kill mites by killing their eggs. 

Rosemary Oil

Since Rosemary Essential Oil is effective at warding off pests, especially wood mites, it is an excellent choice for use during spring and summer. In addition, it works well to keep flies, moths, and other annoying flying insects away.

To eliminate wood mites, fill a spray bottle with clean water and add one teaspoon of rosemary essential oil. Shake the bottle well. Spray the area that has a problem with wood mites.

Borax

Use borax to get rid of wood mites. You can simply sprinkle some of the powder on the areas with wood mites, leave it there for a few hours, and the mites will be gone. You can also put a little borax and water in a spray bottle to spray the wood mites. It will not only kill any mites already living in the wood but also stop any new wood mites from moving in.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Some pests, like wood mites, are frightened by vinegar, while other bugs are drawn to it. Wood mites can be killed by spraying or wiping surfaces with diluted vinegar. However, if you put a container of vinegar near an infestation of wood mites, the little mites will swim into it and suffocate. 

A soak in apple cider vinegar can help rid mange mites on humans and pets. Mix half a cup of apple cider vinegar, half a cup of borax, and half a cup of warm water. Make sure the borax is completely dissolved before you use a sponge to clean your dog’s skin and fur.

Boric Acid

Boric acid will kill most pests, including wood mites. This method mainly works if you know where the wood mites are. Sprinkle the area around your plants, as that will be their food source. Wood mites can also be killed with baking soda and hot water.

Boric acid and its sodium salts have different ways of putting boron together with other elements. In general, how dangerous they depend on how much boron they have. Boric acid and its sodium salts can be used to eliminate a wide range of pests.

Baking Soda

Baking soda is one of the best natural ways to eliminate wood mites. It has a low learning curve. To rid your plants of wood or spider mites, mix a few tablespoons of baking soda with a water bowl and spray it on the pests. Any wood mites on your plants, furniture, or firewood will die when you sprinkle baking soda on them.

The most effective amount of the substance is in a solution that is 1% baking soda. The rest of the solution can be water, but the leaves and stems will be better covered if some horticultural oil or soap is added.

Hypoaspis Mites

An excellent way to get rid of a wood mite problem is to buy Hypoaspis mites, which eat wood mites. The predatory mites known as Hypoaspis, which are also known as Stratiolaelaps scimitars, are migratory and prey on a variety of different pests, including wood mites. Once the predatory mites have eaten every wood mite, they die within a few days.

FAQs

At which Place do wood mites hide indoors?

If there are a large number of wood mites residing outside your home, they may seek out alternative food sources to survive. Then they start to get into your home through cracks and holes in the walls, window frames, and door frames. You can also find them on your home furnishings, in your carpets and rugs, on your curtains, on your bed sheets, and just about everywhere else in your house.

Can wood mites hurt you?

No, wood mites won’t hurt you. Wood mites are tiny, clear, white bugs that live in damp wood. Mold mites and wood mites both eat the mold that grows on wet, rotting wood. Wood mites don’t pose a significant health risk to people. 
They won’t harm you in any way—they won’t bite, they won’t make you sick, and they won’t even bother your house’s foundation. However, the little hairs that they shed can cause allergic reactions in certain people.

Do Wood Mites Like And Eat Wood?

No. Mites don’t like and eat wood, but they are attracted to wet wood. On the contrary, wood mites do not eat wood as termites do. So, you don’t have to worry about them destroying the foundation of your house or eating all of your furniture. 
They like to feed on cellulose. Since cellulose is a food source for wood mites, they have likely made their way into your home in the form of boxes, paper, cardboard, or any other packaging material.

Are Wood Mites Dangerous For  Plants?

Yes, wood mites are dangerous for plants. Wood mites cause harm to plants by inserting their mouthparts into plant cells and sucking out the plant juices. The first sign that mites are feeding is a yellow or white spot on the leaf tissue where the mites are feeding on the lower leaf surface. This spot is usually on the top of the leaf. This is a big reason why you should get rid of them. Mites that live in wood can do a lot of damage to plants.

Final Thoughts

Wood mites aren’t dangerous, but they can be an annoyance if they find their way into your home. Additionally, they may trigger allergic reactions in some people. If you can correctly identify wood mites and know what signs to look for, getting rid of them isn’t quite as challenging as it would first appear. You may find out this information in this article or by asking a professional pest controller for their advice.

References

Kristýna Šimůnková, Ladislav Reinprecht, Jana Nábělková, Štěpán Hýsek, Jiří Kindl, Vlastimil Borůvka, Tereza Lišková, Jan Šobotník, Miloš Pánek,
Caffeine – Perspective natural biocide for wood protection against decaying fungi and termites, Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 304, 2021, 127110, ISSN 0959-6526.

Šimůnková K, Hýsek Š, Reinprecht L, Šobotník J, Lišková T, Pánek M. Lavender oil as eco-friendly alternative to protect wood against termites without negative effect on wood properties. Sci Rep. 2022 Feb 3;12(1):1909

Hýbl M, Bohatá A, Rádsetoulalová I, Kopecký M, Hoštičková I, Vaníčková A, Mráz P. Evaluating the Efficacy of 30 Different Essential Oils against Varroa destructor and Honey Bee Workers (Apis mellifera). Insects. 2021; 12(11):1045.