A dust mite is a microscopic relative of spiders that commonly lives in indoor environments and feeds primarily on shed skin particles and other organic material.
Common household dust mites include species in the genera Dermatophagoides and Euroglyphus. They are commonly found in bedding, mattresses, upholstered furniture, and carpets.
Dust mites do not usually bite people. Their body fragments and feces can contain proteins that trigger allergic reactions in susceptible individuals.
QUICK FACT
Dust mite allergy is caused primarily by exposure to mite proteins, not by the mites biting the skin.
COMMONLY CONFUSED WITH
- Allergen: a substance capable of triggering an allergic reaction in a susceptible person.
- Bedbug: an insect that can bite humans and is biologically different from a dust mite.
SEE ALSO