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House dust mites (HDM, or simply dust mites) are various species of acariform
House dust mites, due to their very small size and translucent bodies, are barely visible to the unaided eye. A typical house dust mite measures 0.2–0.3 mm in length. The body of the house dust mite has a striated cuticle.
House dust mite faecal pellets range from 10 to 40 μm.
Dust Mite Allergy
on the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America website {{Authority control Acari and humans Acariformes Arthropod common names Arthropod infestations Building biology Cosmopolitan arachnids Dust
mite
Mites are small arachnids (eight-legged arthropods) of two large orders, the Acariformes and the Parasitiformes, which were historically grouped together in the subclass Acari. However, most recent genetic analyses do not recover the two as eac ...
s belonging to the family Pyroglyphidae that are found in association with dust in dwellings. They are known for causing allergies
Allergies, also known as allergic diseases, are various conditions caused by hypersensitivity of the immune system to typically harmless substances in the environment. These diseases include Allergic rhinitis, hay fever, Food allergy, food al ...
.
Biology
Species
The currently known species are: * '' Blomia tropicalis'' * '' Dermatophagoides farinae'' (American house dust mite) * '' Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus'' (European house dust mite) * '' Dermatophagoides evansi'' * '' Dermatophagoides microceras'' * '' Dermatophagoides halterophilus'' * '' Dermatophagoides siboney'' * '' Dermatophagoides neotropicalis'' * '' Dermatophagoides alexfaini'' * '' Dermatophagoides anisopoda'' * '' Dermatophagoides chirovi'' * '' Dermatophagoides deanei'' * '' Dermatophagoides rwandae'' * '' Dermatophagoides scheremeteroskyi'' * '' Dermatophagoides scheremetewskyi'' * '' Dermatophagoides simplex'' * '' Euroglyphus maynei'' (Mayne's house dust mite) * '' Euroglyphus longior'' * '' Hirstia domicola'' * '' Malayoglyphus carmelitus'' * '' Malayoglyphus intermedius'' * '' Pyroglyphus africanus'' * '' Sturnophagoides brasiliensis'' * '' Suidasia pontifica''Taxonomy
The dust mites are cosmopolitan members of the mite family Pyroglyphidae.Characteristics
House dust mites, due to their very small size and translucent bodies, are barely visible to the unaided eye. A typical house dust mite measures 0.2–0.3 mm in length. The body of the house dust mite has a striated cuticle.
House dust mite faecal pellets range from 10 to 40 μm.
Diet
Dust mites feed on skin flakes fromhuman
Humans (''Homo sapiens'') or modern humans are the most common and widespread species of primate, and the last surviving species of the genus ''Homo''. They are Hominidae, great apes characterized by their Prehistory of nakedness and clothing ...
s and other animal
Animals are multicellular, eukaryotic organisms in the Biology, biological Kingdom (biology), kingdom Animalia (). With few exceptions, animals heterotroph, consume organic material, Cellular respiration#Aerobic respiration, breathe oxygen, ...
s, and on some mold
A mold () or mould () is one of the structures that certain fungus, fungi can form. The dust-like, colored appearance of molds is due to the formation of Spore#Fungi, spores containing Secondary metabolite#Fungal secondary metabolites, fungal ...
. ''Dermatophagoides farinae'' fungal food choices in 16 tested species commonly found in homes was observed ''in vitro'' to be ''Alternaria alternata
''Alternaria alternata'' is a fungus causing leaf spots, rots, and blights on many plant parts, and other diseases. It is an opportunistic pathogen on over 380 host species of plant.
It can also cause upper respiratory tract infections and a ...
'', '' Cladosporium sphaerospermum'', and '' Wallemia sebi'', and they disliked '' Penicillium chrysogenum'', '' Aspergillus versicolor'', and '' Stachybotrys chartarum''.
Predators
The predators of dust mites are other allergenic mites ('' Cheyletiella''), silverfish, andpseudoscorpion
Pseudoscorpions, also known as false scorpions or book scorpions, are small, scorpion-like arachnids belonging to the order Pseudoscorpiones, also known as Pseudoscorpionida or Chelonethida.
Pseudoscorpions are generally beneficial to humans bec ...
s.
Reproduction
The average life cycle for a house dust mite is 65–100 days. 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.Distribution
Dust mites are found worldwide, but are more common in humid regions. The species ''Blomia tropicalis'' is typically found only in tropical or subtropical regions. Detectable dust mite allergen was found in the beds of about 84% of surveyed United States homes. In Europe, detectable Der p 1 or Der f 1 allergen was found in 68% of surveyed homes.Health issues
Asthma
House dust mite antigens are strongly associated with asthma development and severity; they are estimated to contribute to 60–90% of cases.Allergies
Tropomyosin, the major allergen in dust mites, is also responsible for shellfish allergy.Oral mite anaphylaxis
''Dermatophagoides spp.'' can cause oral mite anaphylaxis (AKA pancake syndrome) when found in flour.See also
*References
External links
Dust Mite Allergy
on the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America website {{Authority control Acari and humans Acariformes Arthropod common names Arthropod infestations Building biology Cosmopolitan arachnids Dust