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 Facts about dust mites
House dust mites, dermatophagoides farinae, are a tiny member of the spider family.
Size: 200 - 300 microns. A magnification of at least 10 times is required to see a dust mite. Approximately 400 mites can fit on the head of a match. Their excrement pellets are 20 - 30 microns.
Appearance: Dust mites are oval shaped and have eight hairy legs. They do not have any eyes or antennae and they have a mouth on the front of their body that resembles a head. They have a tough, translucent outer shell.
Life Cycle: Adult female mites lay up to 50 - 70 eggs during their lifetime. The life cycle from egg to adult is about one month with the adult living three to four months. It is estimated that a dust mite population, if left unchecked, will double approximately every three months.
Food Source: Their main food source is dander, both human and animal skin flakes. Since we spend one third of our lives on a mattress, the mattress is a popular home for the dust mite. Mattresses supply dust mites with an abundant food source and moisture from our bodies as we sleep provides mites with water for absorption. Dust mites must absorb water to survive and therefore they thrive in humid conditions.
Habitat: Mattresses are their prime habitat because the conditions for survival are present in the mattress. Approximately 90% of a home's dust mite population will be located in the mattresses and the remaining 10% will be scattered in the carpet, upholstery and curtains. A used mattress may have up to 10 million dust mites inside. Up to 10% of the weight of a two year old pillow can be made up of dust mites and their excrement. Dust mites thrive in conditions where the room temperature is more than 70 degrees Fahrenheit or 20 degrees Celcius and there is more than 50% humidity.
Symptoms of a dust mite allergy: Coughing, sneezing, wheezing and itchy, watery eyes. Inflammation of the mucus membranes may also be experienced. Other allergic reactions may include headaches, fatigue and depression. Sleeplessness and disturbed, restless sleep are also indicators of a dust mite allergy. Dust mite allergies are a factor in up to 90% of asthmatics and may trigger attacks during the night if the concentrations are high. Dust mite allergens may also contribute to worsening of eczema, bronchitis, hay fever, pet dander allergies and others. An exposure to dust mites in the first, crucial year of life can trigger a lifelong allergy. There is no cure, only prevention. One must control house dust mite levels.
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