How To Get Rid Of Wood Mites

Wood mites are tiny, harmless bugs that often live in old, damp wood. They usually don't bother humans, unless you are a snake owner or cigar aficionado. Wood mites often invade a snake tank if it contains wood-based substrate, such as from aspen or bark. Though they pose no direct threat to pet snakes, they should be eradicated anyway for the sake of good hygiene. Wood mites also infest cigar humidors. The process of getting rid of wood mites is similar to removing other mites and will not require professional assistance.

Step 1

Inspect the area thoroughly and locate any mites. Wood mites are tiny white bugs, similar to fleas and other mites. They feed on decomposing wood, but they are not termites.

Step 2

Purchase an anti-mite insecticide at your local gardening or home supply store. Prevent-A-Mite and Black-Knight are two brands suggested by Rcreptiles.com. These insecticides will get rid of other types of mites as well, including nasty reptile mites that suck the blood of snakes.

Step 3

Remove any mite-infested items and clean the area. Spray the insecticide products from a safe distance to avoid inhaling.

Step 4

Freeze the mites. If the mites have invaded your cigar humidor, place it in the freezer for a few hours. Mite eggs cannot survive in cold climates.

Step 5

Purchase hypoaspis mites. Available at many gardening supply stores and online, the hypoaspis mite is a predatory mite that will quickly consume the wood mites. They won't invade a snake cage or humidor themselves because as soon as they've consumed all the wood mites, they die off in a matter of days.