Harvest mite in dogs – signs and what to do

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: ESCCAP

Book a vet visit

Book a vet appointment if you think your dog has this – a vet needs to confirm it and plan the treatment. It is the mite Neotrombicula autumnalis, and its larvae are active in dry, sunny conditions, often between July and October in temperate climates.

What to do now

What you can do now

  1. Contact your vet.
  2. Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see.
  3. Take a photo or short video to show the vet.
  4. Keep fresh water available.
  5. Let your dog rest somewhere calm.

Don't

  • Do not give any human medicine.
  • Do not wait if it gets worse.

What it is and how it spreads

Harvest mite is the name used for Neotrombicula autumnalis. In temperate climates, larvae become active in dry, sunny conditions, often between July and October.[1]

Signs

  • Orange mite clusters on the skin
  • Itching

What the experts say

“In temperate climates, larvae become active in dry, sunny conditions. This often occurs between July and October; thus the term “harvest mite”.”

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

Get it on Google Play

OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.

Common questions

When are harvest mite larvae active?

They are often active between July and October in temperate climates.[1]

What conditions are associated with larval activity?

Larvae become active in dry, sunny conditions.[1]

Why is it called a harvest mite?

Larval activity often occurs between July and October, hence the term “harvest mite”.[1]

Sources

  1. ESCCAP

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

Other parasites in dogs

HeartwormInfectious cyclic thrombocytopenia (Anaplasma platys)Leishmaniosis (Leishmania infantum)Louping-illLungwormLyme disease (Borrelia)Skin worm (Dirofilaria repens)Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE)Babesiosis (Babesia vulpes / B. microti-like)Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia canis)Castor bean / sheep tick (Ixodes ricinus)Cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis)