How do dust mite eggs look? - briefly
Dust mite eggs are microscopic, oval‑shaped structures approximately 0.2 mm long, appearing translucent to white. They typically occur in clusters embedded in household dust on fabrics, carpets, and upholstery.
How do dust mite eggs look? - in detail
Dust mite ova are microscopic, measuring roughly 0.2–0.3 mm in length. Their shape is oval, slightly elongated, and the shell is smooth without visible ornamentation. The chorion (outer membrane) is translucent, allowing internal contents to be faintly seen under magnification; often a faint white or creamy hue appears when the egg is illuminated from above.
Key visual characteristics:
- Size: 200–300 µm, comparable to a grain of coarse sand.
- Form: Oval, gently tapered at both ends, lacking spikes or ridges.
- Color: Nearly colorless; may appear faintly white or yellowish under bright field microscopy.
- Surface texture: Smooth, glossy, with no discernible pattern.
- Internal view: When examined with phase‑contrast or differential interference contrast, a central yolk mass is visible, surrounded by a thin, clear cytoplasm.
Under a compound microscope at 400×–1000× magnification, the egg appears as a faint, elongated spot. In scanning electron microscopy images, the shell presents a uniform, featureless contour, confirming the absence of external sculpturing. These details distinguish dust mite eggs from other arthropod ova, which often exhibit ridges, coloration, or larger dimensions.