Life Cycle

• Dust mites develop from eggs into adults in about one month. Their adult life span is about two to four months.
  
  

Reproduction

• A single female dust mite can lay about 100 eggs during her adult lifetime. This lets the mite population grow rapidly.
  
  

Biology

• Dust mites feed on skin cells from humans and animals, fungi and bacteria. They absorb water from the air, since they cannot drink; because of this, they cannot survive in low humidity.
  
  

Complications

• According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, about 20 million Americans are allergic to dust mite waste products.
  
  

Prevention/Solution

• Methods of dust mite management include washing bedding and clothes in hot water, vacuuming regularly, and using dehumidifiers and air filters.