Guest guest Posted June 7, 2011 Report Share Posted June 7, 2011 STRAW ITCH MITE - HAY HANDLERS NIGHTMARE! By Lee Townsendhttp://www.uky.edu/Ag/kpn/kpn_03/pn030908.htmStraw itch mites are tiny - 6 to 9/1,000 inch long! The odds of seeing one are a real long shot but the memory of an encounter with them can last a lifetime. Itch mite bites are painless at the time but become noticeable in a few hours. They can cause a dermatitis that includes red welts with a small white pustule in the center and itching that can last for a week or more. Reactions to severe infestations can include vomiting and joint pain, and scratching the bites can mean a nasty infection.These tiny mites can live in pasture grasses where they feed as external parasites on the myriad of small creatures that live there. Their numbers are greatest in years where weather conditions favor a wide range of insects. That means more food for the mites and more offspring are produced. Itch mites also can live in some dried foodstuffs - especially cereals.Human encounters result from handling hay or just spending time in tall unmowed grassy areas. People handling square bale hay can unknowingly pick get bitten by the mites present in curing hay. Also people picking up a few bales to mulch gardens or yards, make decorative Halloween displays, etc. can find themselves itch mite victims. There have been instances of equine dermatitis when horses were given mite-infested hay.There is no way to evaluate bales for the presence or absence of mites and no good control alternatives for mites in infested bales. A temperature of 140 degrees F for a few hours should kill many but that temperature would have to reach the core of the bale.Humans can gain some protection by application of a repellent, such as deet, and a thorough washing with soap and water immediately after possible exposure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 7, 2011 Report Share Posted June 7, 2011 I wonder how these can be avoided if you have to feed your rabbits hay. Son and daughter-in-law have pet rabbits who depend upon hay. Straw Itch Mite STRAW ITCH MITE - HAY HANDLERS NIGHTMARE! By Lee Townsendhttp://www.uky.edu/Ag/kpn/kpn_03/pn030908.htmStraw itch mites are tiny - 6 to 9/1,000 inch long! The odds of seeing one are a real long shot but the memory of an encounter with them can last a lifetime. Itch mite bites are painless at the time but become noticeable in a few hours. They can cause a dermatitis that includes red welts with a small white pustule in the center and itching that can last for a week or more. Reactions to severe infestations can include vomiting and joint pain, and scratching the bites can mean a nasty infection.These tiny mites can live in pasture grasses where they feed as external parasites on the myriad of small creatures that live there. Their numbers are greatest in years where weather conditions favor a wide range of insects. That means more food for the mites and more offspring are produced. Itch mites also can live in some dried foodstuffs - especially cereals.Human encounters result from handling hay or just spending time in tall unmowed grassy areas. People handling square bale hay can unknowingly pick get bitten by the mites present in curing hay. Also people picking up a few bales to mulch gardens or yards, make decorative Halloween displays, etc. can find themselves itch mite victims. There have been instances of equine dermatitis when horses were given mite-infested hay.There is no way to evaluate bales for the presence or absence of mites and no good control alternatives for mites in infested bales. A temperature of 140 degrees F for a few hours should kill many but that temperature would have to reach the core of the bale.Humans can gain some protection by application of a repellent, such as deet, and a thorough washing with soap and water immediately after possible exposure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 7, 2011 Report Share Posted June 7, 2011 Best thing I have found is DE. I buy red lake earth at the feed mill. I like this DE because of price and moisture control, also for the detox because of the clay, or technical name, montmorillonite. And the benefits for the spin overflow, and my plants, and dry pest free barn, and crawl space. Great for kitty boxes, chicken coops, and on. http://www.absorbentproductsltd.com/redearth.htm http://www.thepetalternative.com/RedDesertClay.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montmorillonite > > I wonder how these can be avoided if you have to feed your rabbits hay. Son and daughter-in-law have pet rabbits who depend upon hay. > > > > > > Straw Itch Mite > > > > > > > STRAW ITCH MITE - HAY HANDLERS NIGHTMARE! > By Lee Townsend > > http://www.uky.edu/Ag/kpn/kpn_03/pn030908.htm > > Straw itch mites are tiny - 6 to 9/1,000 inch long! The odds of seeing one are a real long shot but the memory of an encounter with them can last a lifetime. Itch mite bites are painless at the time but become noticeable in a few hours. They can cause a dermatitis that includes red welts with a small white pustule in the center and itching that can last for a week or more. Reactions to severe infestations can include vomiting and joint pain, and scratching the bites can mean a nasty infection. > > These tiny mites can live in pasture grasses where they feed as external parasites on the myriad of small creatures that live there. Their numbers are greatest in years where weather conditions favor a wide range of insects. That means more food for the mites and more offspring are produced. Itch mites also can live in some dried foodstuffs - especially cereals. > > Human encounters result from handling hay or just spending time in tall unmowed grassy areas. People handling square bale hay can unknowingly pick get bitten by the mites present in curing hay. Also people picking up a few bales to mulch gardens or yards, make decorative Halloween displays, etc. can find themselves itch mite victims. There have been instances of equine dermatitis when horses were given mite-infested hay. > > There is no way to evaluate bales for the presence or absence of mites and no good control alternatives for mites in infested bales. A temperature of 140 degrees F for a few hours should kill many but that temperature would have to reach the core of the bale. > > Humans can gain some protection by application of a repellent, such as deet, and a thorough washing with soap and water immediately after possible exposure. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 7, 2011 Report Share Posted June 7, 2011 Let me explain more. I put the DE in with the straw or hay bedding, in fact this earth covers anywhere on the farm that is rain proof. > > > > I wonder how these can be avoided if you have to feed your rabbits hay. Son and daughter-in-law have pet rabbits who depend upon hay. > > > > > > > > > > > > Straw Itch Mite > > > > > > > > > > > > > > STRAW ITCH MITE - HAY HANDLERS NIGHTMARE! > > By Lee Townsend > > > > http://www.uky.edu/Ag/kpn/kpn_03/pn030908.htm > > > > Straw itch mites are tiny - 6 to 9/1,000 inch long! The odds of seeing one are a real long shot but the memory of an encounter with them can last a lifetime. Itch mite bites are painless at the time but become noticeable in a few hours. They can cause a dermatitis that includes red welts with a small white pustule in the center and itching that can last for a week or more. Reactions to severe infestations can include vomiting and joint pain, and scratching the bites can mean a nasty infection. > > > > These tiny mites can live in pasture grasses where they feed as external parasites on the myriad of small creatures that live there. Their numbers are greatest in years where weather conditions favor a wide range of insects. That means more food for the mites and more offspring are produced. Itch mites also can live in some dried foodstuffs - especially cereals. > > > > Human encounters result from handling hay or just spending time in tall unmowed grassy areas. People handling square bale hay can unknowingly pick get bitten by the mites present in curing hay. Also people picking up a few bales to mulch gardens or yards, make decorative Halloween displays, etc. can find themselves itch mite victims. There have been instances of equine dermatitis when horses were given mite-infested hay. > > > > There is no way to evaluate bales for the presence or absence of mites and no good control alternatives for mites in infested bales. A temperature of 140 degrees F for a few hours should kill many but that temperature would have to reach the core of the bale. > > > > Humans can gain some protection by application of a repellent, such as deet, and a thorough washing with soap and water immediately after possible exposure. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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