Mites are a diverse group of arachnids, related to spiders and scorpions, with over 45,000 known species and an estimated total approaching a million. They are ubiquitous and can be found in virtually every terrestrial, freshwater, and marine habitat. Dust mites can cause allergic conditions and can be eliminated by washing clothes and bedding at high temperatures.
Mites (subclass Acari) are an extremely diverse group of arachnids, closely related to spiders and scorpions. They’re small and ubiquitous: even if a room looks perfectly clean, it’s home to tens of thousands of tiny dust mites. These creatures are among the most diverse subclasses of life, with over 45,000 known species and an estimated total approaching a million. Since most species are microscopic and tropical, their diversity has been poorly characterized.
Although mites are the most successful group of arachnids, most of them are less than 0.04 inches (1 millimeter) long, meaning people never see them. Dust mites are among the smallest varieties, measuring about 0.01 inch (0.3 mm) long. Immature mites can be even smaller. Some of the biggest are ticks, the leeches that spread Lyme disease.
Like some other arachnids, mites are among the oldest known land creatures, with fossils dating back to the Devonian Period, 400 million years ago. These creatures lived among some of the earliest land plants. Like other common invertebrates, such as nematodes (transparent microscopic arthropod worms), mites are totally ubiquitous, having colonized virtually every terrestrial, freshwater and marine habitat, including the polar and alpine extremes. They are one of the few animals found in Antarctica. The three main strains are called Opilioacariformes, Acariformes and Parasitiformes.
In soil, the mites can be found buried up to 33m deep, in near-freezing or warm water up to 10°C, in dry deserts, deep trenches, and in many other places. A typical square foot (or square meter) of forest floor litter may contain approximately one million mites, representing 122 species in at least 50 families. Individuality and diversity matter for the reason they outnumber any other animal except roundworms.
To eliminate dust mites from clothes, they can be washed at a high temperature. Dust mite droppings can cause various allergic conditions, such as hay fever, asthma, and eczema and atopic dermatitis. To control the population in a home, it is recommended to wash blankets and other bedding regularly at high temperatures.
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