Difference between revisions of "Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus"

Revision as of 17:43, 17 March 2014

Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (click on image to enlarge it)
Author(s): Gilles San Martin
Source: Wikimedia Commons

Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Trouessart) - (European housedust mite)
is common in houses and has a world-wide distribution. Its fecal pellets contain digestive enzymes which can cause allergies and asthma once they get into the air and are inhaled. It is closely associated with human dwellings and rarely found in other places. The mites prefer warm and moist environments where they inhabit matresses, carpets and upholstery. They feed mainly on microscopic organic particles shed by the human skin. The adult is about 0.3 mm large. The life cycle from egg, through larval-, protonymph- and tritonymph stages, to mature adult lasts for 2-4 weeks under suitable conditions. The mite has a similar biology as the related species Dermatophagoides farinae and both species might occur together in the same environment.

For details see the respective page in Wikipedia.

Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus
Author(s): US Government
Source: Wikimedia Commons