Where they live Mites occur around the world, particularly in coastal areas and warm climates. Mites are common in Hawaii, Georgia, Virginia, and the Puget Sound area. The number of mites in a home has nothing to do with the cleanliness of the home or the presence of animals. It is more likely related to humidity and the amount of fabric in the susceptible areas of the home. Mites eat the skin that we shed daily.
People shed about one gram of skin flakes per day.
This food supply drops directly into the mites' home, the bed. Each day's supply will feed several mites for a lifetime. They do not live on vinyl or hardwood floors. Mites require a relative humidity of 50 percent or greater. When it is warm and humid, the number of mites increases rapidly.