Dust mites belong to the genus Dermatophagoides and are in the same Arachnid family as the spider. They are so small they can not be seen with the naked eye. They are oval shaped, cream colored, eight legged creatures with sticky pads on the ends of their feet making it easy for them to burrow deep in carpet fibers and furniture.
The dust mite population increases very rapidly. Each egg-laying female can increase the population by 25 to 30 mites every three weeks. Also each mite produces between 10 and 20 waste pellets each day. The life span of a mite is only two to three months, however.