Pyroglyphidae

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Pyroglyphidae
CSIRO ScienceImage 11085 A scanning electron micrograph of a female dust mite.jpg
Scanning electron micrograph of a female dust mite
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Sarcoptiformes
Superfamily: Pyroglyphoidea
Family: Pyroglyphidae
Subfamilies

Pyroglyphidae is a family of non-parasitic mites. It includes the house dust mite that live in human dwellings, many species that live in the burrows and nests of other animals, and some pests of dried products stored in humid conditions.

Contents

Etymology

The naming of the family originates from the fact that dust mites cause eczema, with intense itching and a red rash. The condition has been described as like burns from fire on the skin, with a 'burning' itching sensation, hence the word 'Pyro' in 'pyroglyphidae'. [1]

Characteristics

Mites in this family are very tiny; the female American house dust mite (Dermatophagoides farinae), for example, measures about 420 microns in length and 320 microns in width, with the male being somewhat narrower. [2]

Ecology

These mites mostly live in the nests and burrows of animals and birds where they feed on detritus from the skin and feathers of their hosts. They need a humid atmosphere because the air is their only source of moisture. They thrive when the relative humidity is greater than 50% but become desiccated and die at lower relative humidity levels. [3] Other mites in this family feed on stored products such as grain, cereals, nuts, dried fruit, cheeses and pet foods, but only in conditions of high relative humidity. [4]

The sexes are separate in this family. The female lays two or three eggs each day and these develop through several stages; larva, protonymph, trytonymph and adult. At 23 °C (73 °F), the complete cycle takes 34 days, but the length of time taken varies with the temperature and relative humidity. If the latter is very low, the protonymph can enter diapause, surviving for several months in a quiescent state until conditions improve, after which development recommences. [3]

House dust mites

Three species of house dust mite are commonly found in human dwellings; Dermatophagoides farinae, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Euroglyphus maynei. They feed on flakes of skin found in dust and typically occur on carpets, around sofas and chairs, and on mattresses. They may be very plentiful in the humid tropics, but in temperate climates are more numerous in humid summers than in winters, when the relative humidity is usually lower in homes. [3]

Some people suffer a reaction to allergens present in the faeces of house dust mites. These may cause atopic dermatitis or be inhaled giving rise to asthma or rhinitis. [5]

Related Research Articles

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Scabies is a contagious skin infestation by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei. The most common symptoms are severe itchiness and a pimple-like rash. Occasionally, tiny burrows may appear on the skin. In a first-ever infection, the infected person usually develops symptoms within two to six weeks. During a second infection, symptoms may begin within 24 hours. These symptoms can be present across most of the body or just certain areas such as the wrists, between fingers, or along the waistline. The head may be affected, but this is typically only in young children. The itch is often worse at night. Scratching may cause skin breakdown and an additional bacterial infection in the skin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Humidity</span> Concentration of water vapour in the air

Humidity is the concentration of water vapor present in the air. Water vapor, the gaseous state of water, is generally invisible to the human eye. Humidity indicates the likelihood for precipitation, dew, or fog to be present.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mite</span> Small eight-legged arthropod

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">House dust mite</span> Common name for several species of mite

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<i>Narceus americanus</i> Species of millipede

Narceus americanus is a large millipede of eastern North America. Common names include American giant millipede, worm millipede, and iron worm. It inhabits the eastern seaboard of North America west to Georgetown, Texas, north of the Ottine wetlands. It has a nearly cylindrical gray body, reaching a length of 4 inches (100 mm). They can be commonly found in or under decaying logs from March to October. When threatened, they sometimes curl up or release a noxious liquid that contains large amounts of benzoquinones which can cause dermatological burns. This fluid may irritate eyes or skin. Many other millipedes secrete hydrogen cyanide, and while there have also been claims that N. americanus releases hydrogen cyanide, they are unsubstantiated. They do, however, excrete a substance that causes a temporary, non-harmful discoloration of the skin known as millipede burn.

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Sarcoptes scabiei or the itch mite is a parasitic mite that burrows into skin and causes scabies. The mite is found in all parts of the world. Humans are not the only mammals that can become infected. Other mammals, such as wild and domesticated dogs and cats as well as ungulates, wild boars, bovids, wombats, koalas, and great apes are affected.

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Trombiculidae, commonly referred to in North America as chiggers and in Britain as harvest mites, but also known as berry bugs, bush-mites, red bugs or scrub-itch mites, are a family of mites. Chiggers are often confused with jiggers – a type of flea. Several species of Trombiculidae in their larva stage bite their animal or human host and by embedding their mouthparts into the skin cause "intense irritation" or "a wheal, usually with severe itching and dermatitis".

<i>Ophionyssus natricis</i> Species of mite

Ophionyssus natricis, the reptile mite, is a parasitic mite most commonly found on snakes, but also occurring on captive lizards, turtles, crocodiles, and other reptiles. The parasites feed on snakes, which cause the bodies of the mites to be engorged with blood and fluids from the snake. Once the mites feed by puncturing through the snake skin, the snake usually shows symptoms of irritation and discomfort. The involvement of snake mites in transmission of infectious illnesses like inclusion body disease and ophidian paramyxovirus remains controversial. Human infestation has been reported.

<i>Pyemotes tritici</i> Species of mite

Pyemotes tritici is a species of mite known as the grain itch mite or straw itch mite. It is a cosmopolitan species that is found on straw, hay and stored grain. It is a parasite of small arthropods and is being investigated as a possible biological control of stored product pests. It is associated with dermatitis in humans, and it causes an itchy rash.

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Dust mite allergy, also known as house dust allergy, is a sensitization and allergic reaction to the droppings of house dust mites. The allergy is common and can trigger allergic reactions such as asthma, eczema or itching. The mite's gut contains potent digestive enzymes that persist in their feces and are major inducers of allergic reactions such as wheezing. The mite's exoskeleton can also contribute to allergic reactions. Unlike scabies mites or skin follicle mites, house dust mites do not burrow under the skin and are not parasitic.

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References

  1. Pyroglyphidae at the U.S. National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
  2. "house dust mites - Dermatophagoides spp". entnemdept.ufl.edu. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 Resh, Vincent H.; Cardé, Ring T. (2009). Encyclopedia of Insects. Academic Press. p. 155. ISBN   978-0-08-092090-0.
  4. Hoy, Marjorie A. (2016). Agricultural Acarology: Introduction to Integrated Mite Management. CRC Press. p. 351. ISBN   978-1-4398-1753-7.
  5. Ludman, Sian (5 September 2016). "House dust mite allergy". NetDoctor. Retrieved 22 August 2018.