Dust mites were not really been known to humans until 1964. Dust mites are arachnids, like spiders, and thus have eight legs. They belong in the Pyroglyphidae family that is of the mites and are microscopic organisms that are almost invisible to the naked eye. An average dust mite measures about only 0.4mm in length and about 0.32mm in width. It is possible to see them through if they are in a dark background and you have ample light.
One special note, you can not feel dust mites crawling on your skin and they do not bite.
The male dust mites have an average lifespan of 10-19 days, while female dust mites can live to up to 70 days. They reproduce at an alarming rate – a female dust mite can lay 60 to 100 eggs during the five weeks of its life. The most shocking thing, however, is the fact that these mites can produce about 2,000 pieces of excrement within their life spans.
These fecal matters are allergens to a lot of human beings and are considered the leading cause of many allergies and even asthma.
Interestingly, dust mites thrive in almost all kinds of weather. They are mostly found indoors where they can find plenty of food to survive. Dust mites particularly love warm and humid environments. They seem to find temperatures between 60 degrees Fahrenheit to 80 degrees Fahrenheit as the best place to populate. In homes where most of the time humidity is around 50-60%, dust mites enjoy areas like the bedroom and living room. According to studies, a mattress can typically hold about 100,000 to several million dust mites. This number is very alarming especially in households where there are people allergic to dust mite excrements.
An average human being, on the other hand, spends a third of his or her life in bed. And during all that sleeping or lounging around on the bed, he sheds dead skin that totals to about 1/5th of an ounce worth of dead skin every week. The dead skin serves as food for dust mites that live in warm and moist places – like beds. Apart from mattresses, dust mites also thrive in other warm, fluffy surroundings in the house such as pillows, couches, and carpets.
The dust mites themselves don’t exactly cause diseases or allergies. It is their waste products that humans are allergic too. A study revealed that about 10 % of people in the world are allergic to dust mite wastes and more and more people are acquiring allergies. Apart from asthma, house dust mite allergy can also cause symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, itchiness, nasal stuffiness, and in more severe cases, eczema and respiratory problems.
It is very difficult to completely get rid of the dust mites from your homes because they are very small and almost invisible. However, there are things you can do to protect yourself and your family against dust mite allergies. We have a lot of tips to help you get rid of dust mites and shield your household from the harmful health risks they cause.
DHR