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| Name: |
Dust
Mite
|
| AKA: |
Sneezy
|
| Scientific Name: |
Dermatophagoides
spp.
|
| Description: | Very tiny — almost a dozen would fit on the dot of this exclamation point! They are oval-shaped, cream-coloured, and have a soft, sometimes armored body. Often the exoskeleton has a pattern like a fingerprint in it. They are eight-legged and are not insects but arachnids (belong to the spider group). They have specialized claws in the shape of tiny paddles which helps them move over surfaces. |
| Diet: | Dead skin or other organic material such as hair, fingernails, etc. |
| Habitat: | They live in your house — the bed, your pillow, in dust balls, and virtually all around you. |
| Wanted For: | Causing people with allergies to sneeze or have difficulty breathing. Dust mite fecal packets can contain various chemical products that become allergens (toxic compounds) to people. When exposed to these products, people who are sensitive to them will have an allergic reaction. Reactions vary from sneezing, itching, watery eyes, skin reactions — or, in the case of asthmatics, wheezing. |
| Last Known Location: | In
the vacuum cleaner, in your carpet, on your pillow, or in your
mattress!
Complete elimination of dust mites is unlikely. Reducing populations is the only likely way to reduce allergens. |