In 2008, Dr Mike Service, from Cambridge, noted that, once hatched from its egg, the larvae of the mite will eat before proceeding through two further nymphal stages of development before becoming an adult. Mindful that mites consider mite droppings as food, a question should be asked: During the mite's early developmental stages is it possible for ingested 'helpful' bacteria to have time to establish a colony?
Scientists have previously described such symbiotic relationships between bacteria and animals and note that they are important for survival. These bacteria, or their products (ie.endotoxins) may be a cause disease in sensitive humans and dogs.
Text taken from Dr Service's book, 'A female house dust mite may lay 1 to 3 eggs a day. After 6 to 12 days the egg will hatch producing a six-legged larva which will feed then pass through 2 nymphal stages before emerging as an adult'.
Medical Entomology for Students, Dr Mike Service, Cambridge University Press, 2008, ISBN 0521709288, 9780521709286.