What does the barn mite feed on? - briefly
Barn mites feed on microscopic organic matter, including mold spores, fungi, bacteria, and decaying plant material present in stored feed and hay. They may also ingest small amounts of grain particles when such food is available.
What does the barn mite feed on? - in detail
Barn mites (Dermatophagoides spp. and related species) are microscopic arthropods that obtain nutrients primarily from organic debris found in livestock shelters, grain storage facilities, and other indoor environments. Their diet consists of:
- Fungal spores and hyphae – the most abundant food source; mites ingest spores of molds such as Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Cladosporium that proliferate on damp bedding, feed, and feed‑lot residues.
- Detritus – decaying plant material, animal hair, skin flakes, and fecal particles that accumulate in haylofts, stables, and grain bins.
- Bacterial colonies – opportunistic consumption of bacteria that colonize moist substrates, especially when fungal resources are scarce.
- Stored‑product insects – occasional predation on eggs and larvae of grain beetles (Sitophilus spp.) and other small arthropods when populations overlap.
Feeding activity is strongly influenced by humidity and temperature. Relative humidity above 70 % and temperatures between 20 °C and 30 °C accelerate fungal growth, thereby increasing the availability of spores. Under these conditions, barn mites can complete a life cycle in 2–3 weeks, consuming up to 0.2 mg of material per individual per day.
In environments with low fungal presence, mites shift toward greater reliance on detrital matter and bacterial biofilms. Their mouthparts are adapted for scraping and sucking, allowing efficient extraction of nutrients from a heterogeneous substrate. The combination of fungal, bacterial, and detrital intake supports rapid reproduction and high population densities, often reaching several thousand individuals per square meter in heavily infested barns.