Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus Dust mite faecal pellets that can be small as 10 μm,[1] but can be contained by anti-mite fabrics of a denser pore size.[2]
House dust mites (HDM, or simply dust mites) are various species of acariformmites belonging to the family Pyroglyphidae that are found in association with dust in dwellings.[3] They are known for causing allergies.
[edit]A scanning electron micrograph of a female dust mite
House dust mites, due to their very small size and translucent bodies, are barely visible to the unaided eye.[5] A typical house dust mite measures 0.2–0.3 mm in length.[6] The body of the house dust mite has a striated cuticle.[citation needed]
House dust mite faecal pellets range from 10 to 40 μm.[1]
The average life cycle for a house dust mite is 65–100 days.[9] A mated female house dust mite can live up to 70 days, laying 60 to 100 eggs in the last five weeks of her life. In a 10-week life span, a house dust mite will produce approximately 2,000 fecal particles and an even larger number of partially digested enzyme-covered dust particles.[10]
Dust mites are found worldwide, but are more common in humid regions.[11] The species Blomia tropicalis is typically found only in tropical or subtropical regions.[12] Detectable dust mite allergen was found in the beds of about 84% of surveyed United States homes.[13] In Europe, detectable Der p 1 or Der f 1 allergen was found in 68% of surveyed homes.[14]
^Denmark, H. A.; Cromroy, H. L. (April 2017) [October 1998]. "House dust mites—Dermatophagoides spp". Featured Creatures. Department of Entomology & Nemotology, University of Florida, and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry. EENY-59. Originally published as DPI Entomology Circular 314.
^Madden, Anne A.; Barberán, Albert; Bertone, Matthew A.; Menninger, Holly L.; Dunn, Robert R.; Fierer, Noah (2016). "The diversity of arthropods in homes across the United States as determined by environmental DNA analyses". Molecular Ecology. 25 (24): 6214–6224. Bibcode:2016MolEc..25.6214M. doi:10.1111/mec.13900. ISSN1365-294X. PMID27801965. S2CID22325949.
^Dutra, Moisés S; Roncada, Cristian; da Silva, Guilherme L; Ferla, Noeli J; Pitrez, Paulo M (2018-05-04). "Mite Fauna Assessment in Houses of Two distinct Socioeconomic Groups From Southern Brazil". Journal of Medical Entomology. 55 (3): 620–625. doi:10.1093/jme/tjx239. ISSN0022-2585. PMID29281052.
^Arbes, Samuel J.; Cohn, Richard D.; Yin, Ming; Muilenberg, Michael L.; Burge, Harriet A.; Friedman, Warren; Zeldin, Darryl C. (2003-02-01). "House dust mite allergen in US beds: Results from the first national survey of lead and allergens in housing". Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 111 (2): 408–414. doi:10.1067/mai.2003.16. PMID12589364.
