What do dust lice look like? - briefly
Dust mites are microscopic arthropods about 0.2–0.3 mm long, translucent to pale brown, with an oval body covered in fine hairs and four pairs of short legs. They lack wings and are invisible to the naked eye.
What do dust lice look like? - in detail
Dust lice are microscopic arachnids, typically measuring 0.2–0.5 mm in length. Their bodies consist of two fused sections: the gnathosoma (mouth region) and the idiosoma (main body). The idiosoma is oval to slightly elongated, covered by a smooth, semi‑transparent cuticle that often appears pale beige or yellowish under a microscope.
The dorsal surface lacks distinct segmentation and shows faint striations corresponding to internal organs. Six legs emerge from the anterior part of the idiosoma; each leg is slender, jointed, and ends in tiny claws that aid in movement through dust particles. No eyes are present, and sensory setae are sparsely distributed along the legs and body margins.
Key morphological traits:
- Length: 200–500 µm.
- Color: translucent, pale beige to light yellow.
- Body shape: oval, smooth cuticle, no visible segmentation.
- Legs: six, slender, ending in microscopic claws.
- Eyes: absent.
- Mouthparts: chelicerae adapted for piercing and sucking, located in the gnathosoma.
Under high magnification, the exoskeleton reveals a faintly reticulate pattern, while the ventral side houses the reproductive organs and digestive tract, visible only in cleared specimens. The overall appearance is that of a tiny, elongated grain of dust, easily overlooked without specialized equipment.