Community identification
Dust mite
Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus
- Order & Family
- Order Sarcoptiformes, Family Pyroglyphidae
- Size
- 0.2 to 0.4 millimeters in length, virtually invisible to the naked eye.
Natural Habitat
Indoor environments, thriving in warm, humid houses, mattresses, carpets, and upholstered furniture.
Diet & Feeding
Feeds primarily on shed human and animal skin flakes, dander, and organic dust particles.
Behavior Patterns
Spends its entire life cycle indoors, preferring high humidity and temperatures between 68-77 degrees Fahrenheit.
Risks & Benefits
Does not bite or transmit diseases, but their body fragments and waste products are potent allergens triggering asthma and rhinitis in humans.