Experiencing itchy, red bites with an unknown cause? It’s likely the result of oak leaf itch mites, microscopic creatures that feed off cicada eggs.
Oak Park residents have complained about these abnormal welts that are different than typical summer ailments like mosquito bites. Jack Bizot, one Oak Parker, said he started noticing these bites on his skin in the beginning of August, prompting him to see a dermatologist, who said a lot of locals were in the same boat.
“I got more bites in the past few weeks than I got in the last 10, maybe even 20 years,” Bizot said. “It was sort of alarming at first.”
It’s also not the first time Oak Parkers have experienced these mysterious bites. A 2007 Wednesday Journal article reported an uptick in bites from the oak leaf itch mites, likely tied to the periodical cicadas’ last emergence 17 years ago.
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, the microscopic insect-like creatures that cause these bites cannot be seen with the naked eye. The mites, which typically feed off eggs or larvae, bite people accidentally while searching for their next meal.
The creatures stay on a person’s body for about four hours before they bite, according to the IDPH. The mites fall from trees in late summer and can easily float through open windows or door screens and penetrate loose clothing.
The bites can result in red welts, typically found on areas of the body more exposed such as the neck, face or arms. The bites are itchy and can last for about two weeks, according to the IDPH.
In a typical summer, Bizot said he doesn’t get many bug bites, making these new ones stand out. The bites don’t appear for him until about 12 hours after an outdoor activity, he said. One bite near his eye has been particularly annoying, Bizot said.
“Usually, they’ll show up in the morning,” he said. “It’s waking up like ‘Oh, where are my new bites going to be?’”
The itchy bites have made Bizot want to avoid spending as much time as he usually does outside, he said, which has been frustrating as the nicer weather entices him for walks around town.
Bizot said his bites only itch for about a day or two before new ones vie for his attention. Anti-itch creams and oral anti-histamines, or allergy medicine, can help control itching, according to the IDPH. Bizot said he’s also heard aloe vera gel can help soothe itchiness.
And he’s not alone with the itchy frustration. Simone Boutet, also an Oak Park resident, said she posted about her first mite bite on Facebook, getting feedback that other locals were experiencing similar symptoms.
“Basically, every time you go outside you get another bite,” Boutet said. “The information I’m getting is that they’re coming down from the trees in like hundreds of thousands.”
Boutet said she’s had several bites that “don’t go away.” She’s a gardener and spends a lot of time working outside, biking, or walking her dog, resulting in additional bites.
“It’s not like you can stay inside,” she said.
After discovering a mite bite, it’s important not to scratch it, according to the IDPH, as scratching can lead to an infection. A health care provider should be contacted in the event of a skin infection.
The mites are active near oak tree leaves that are brown with crusty edges. To avoid bites, avoid oak trees or nearby outdoor areas. Keeping windows closed, removing clothes each day and showering after outdoor activities are other ways to prevent mite bites. Bizot said he’s started showering twice a day to avoid any more unwanted itchy welts.
“It makes you a little bit paranoid,” he said.
Insect repellent will likely not work to prevent bites, but can be helpful for preventing mosquito bites.
Dr. Jordan Carqueville, medical director of The Derm Institute of Chicago, told NBC Chicago that there’s been an increase of mite bites in the suburbs compared to downtown Chicago, likely because more 17-year cicadas emerged in the less densely-populated areas.