Our best companion.
During its evolution, the Man has always had an intimate relationship with the animal world. First hunter, then breeder, the cohabitation between these two environments has always been at the center of our organization of life.
Became even intimate of our homes and much more a confidante for some.
But according to you, what is our most faithful companion? The dog, the cat or the rabbit? Lost, since the animal with the most of interactions with us, which accompanies us throughout our life counting by hundreds ... of thousands in our habitat is none other than mite.
But this invisible intruder who invites himself to us without our agreement is it positive or harmful for our daily life?
Presentation
What is a mite?
This microscopic animal comes from the night of time ... where at least since the earth exists. mites are part of the family of arachnids (spiders, scorpions etc ...) but their size varies from a few tenths of millimeters to a few centimeters for the biggest, the tick by example.
Although only 50 000 species are listed, there is an estimate close to million species, and their shape is just as varied.
Nevertheless, there are some similarities between them: their four pairs of legs in adults versus three in their larvae, their prosome and opisthosome (abdomen) fused and a simple carapace in protection .
Mites have a fairly short life, two to three months, and the female bridge during its lifetime up to 900 eggs.
Evolving both in the terrestrial and aquatic environment, the largest interaction between mites and man is carried out daily and within our habitat.
Mites and Men
Guest of the everyday
Although invisible to the naked eye, the mite is present in our homes, it is fed with our food remains and our dead skin, So it's not a surprise to find them on the carpets, sofas or even our bed.
In our bed.
For their reproduction, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus need a wet location, 60 to 80% humidity, and a stable temperature around 26 degree.
And guess where we find its ideal conditions?
Thanks to our dander (rest of dead skin, hair, nail debris) these mites have plenty of food (0.25 gram of skin residue can nourish several million of mites) and with the transpiration of the night associated with the temperature of our body, we provide them with ideal conditions for their proliferation. We can accommodate up to 2 million intruders in our bed.
However, we are not in direct contact with this species of mite, which finds the temperature of our body a bit too high and will therefore prefer to stay overnight at the bottom of the mattress to go back to the surface once the humans have come out from under their blanket to extend their search for moisture left by our body where under our pillow which will have kept it a little longer.
On our face
If you are adult, you are old enough to have ... mites on your face.
A study conducted by researchers in North Carolina and California found that 100% of subjects studied over 18 years of age have mites where traces of passage mites on their faces. And the more years pass, the more these visitors are present on this one.
There are two species of mites that can wander through your face:
- Demodex brevis, they nest in the pores of the skin, inside the sebaceous glands and feed on sebum (greasy substance used to protect our skin) and dead cells. They wait for the night to move and lay their eggs in furrows dug in our skin.
-The Demodex folliculorum, are rather appointed by our hairs (nose, eyelashes, cheeks) and will be housed in the cells that manufacture them.
An unexpected asset
It makes us well services this tiny intruder of our lives. And as usual, humans know how to take advantage of everything around them including mites.
bio agriculture
The research is running, at the INRA their new biological weapon is none other than the killer mite, which is in charge of getting rid of parasites, aphids or other mites that thrive on plants. This is already the case in France and Holland , where 10% to 20% of crops under heated greenhouse are treated by this process.
All a cheese
The cheese Velay is aptly named, since it comes from Puy-en-Velay in the Auvergnat country. But this cheese has a specificity since it is to the artisons, a species of mites which is poured on its crust to ensure its ripening.
A hint of acidity comes out of this recipe a little special but is a hit in the region.
Scientific police
Death squad is the name given to these mites that allow the forensic to accurately determine the death time of a victim.
By studying the behavior of these, (presence, laying, etc.) it is possible to trace the chronology of its evolution on the corpse to determine the exact time of death.
Attention danger
Allergy and asthma.
Beware that all allergies and asthmatics are moving away, since mites are responsible for more than 50% of our allergies and a few grams of dust loaded with mites can trigger an asthma attack.
The presence, but especially the excrement, of its small animals are the main causes of its reactions harmful to our organism.
Suffice to say that with million lying in our bed and those who find refuges in the dust, they lead us hard.
But rest assured, there are simple everyday solutions to limit the number of intruders in our homes:
air regularly your room especially in winter will go down the temperature and go down the humidity rate conducive to their good development.
inhale meticulously every nook and especially under the bed, since 2 milligrams of mites / gram laden with dust can cause an allergic reaction and 10 milligrams of mites / gram of dust and likely to cause an asthma attack.
wash your pillows and sheets at 60 degree.
Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus does not survive at temperatures above 55 degrees, so it's a good way to get rid of them.
The tick
The tick is part of the family of mites, it is also one of the only representatives visible to the naked eye.
She lives in the woods and tall grass while waiting for an animal or human to pass by to fall on her skin in order to cling to it.
Its rostrum is fixed in the skin to feed on the blood of its host.
So far nothing serious since once filled with blood the tick will come off naturally, but the tick is carrying many viruses and the more it stays on us and the more we are likely to catch one.
The best known is the most dangerous is Lyme disease which 10% to 30% of ticks are carriers.
There is also tick-borne encephalitis, which has a vaccine, and the Mediterranean fever fever, which is the least serious of the three.
Scabies
The sarcopter is the mite at the origin of scabies, the female digs galleries in the superficial part of the skin to lay eggs. The saliva of this mite is irritating and itchy.
It is caught after close contact between two people and transmitted only from humans to humans.
Conclusion
Apart from some cases of more or less severe disease caused by certain mites, cohabitation is going relatively well with our invisible domestic animals. As usual, Man adapts to what surrounds him and draws the best for it to evolve and this is still the case with mites.
The only negative point of these arachnids is the allergies and asthma attacks they cause in some people more sensitive to their presence and droppings.
Let's hope that the status quo will continue for a long time and that nothing will be done to eliminate the mites that are in charge of the decomposition of the natural elements.
Source of research: