Dustmites

How they live

The whole life cycle of dustmites from egg to adult takes approximately one month to complete. Mature female mites can lay from 1-2 eggs per day. Adult mites can live up to two months, but this is dependent on the levels of humidity and temperature of their surrounding environment.

Dustmites are very small: 0.2 to 0.3 mm long and translucent; virtually invisible to the naked eye. They have eight legs, no eyes and no antennae. Female mites lay between 40 and 60 eggs in a lifetime. They are the cause of year-round allergy and asthma. Unfortunately, they can make you very ill.

Humans and most animals shed pounds of skin flakes (the dustmite food) every year. About 80% of the material seen floating in a sunbeam is actually flakes of skin. A typical bed mattress may have from 100,000 to 10 million mites.

How to get rid of them

Dustmites live in mattresses, pillows, bedcovers, clothes, carpets and furniture. They are called skin-eaters (Dermatophagoides Farinae) and they usually feed on dead flakes of human skin. Over 80 % of people with allergies and asthma will test positive to dustmites. To control and prevent dustmite allergies, wash your sheets and blankets once a week in hot water and maintain dry air conditions.

Your bedding can be kept dry with proper use of dehumidifiers. Moisture Cure can advise on the best solution for your needs.