The two major species of dust mites were first identified in 1964. The European dust mite is Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. The common American dust mite is Dermatophagoides farinae. The proteins contained in the shed shells, dead bodies, and feces of both mite species are quite similar. In tropical regions, the mite Blomia tropicalis (also called the storage mite) also exists.

There is evidence that only limited cross reactivity exists between dermatophagoides pteroynssinus and Blomia tropicalis.   The pteroynssinus prefers a more humid environment than the farinae mite. D. pteroynssinus lays 80 to 120 eggs over a 45 day period while the D. farinae only lays about 30 eggs in a month (or an egg a day). The most important allergenic proteins in D. pteronyssinus are Der p 1 and Der p 2.

D. pteronyssinus has also been reported to play an important role as a trigger factor in patients with atopic dermatitis (as reported in Acta Dermatovenerol Croat 2006 14(2):86-9)
The best protection against dermatophagoides pteroynssinus is to seal mattresses and pillows in zippered covers that are imperious to the mite.