Dehydration and Survival of the European House Dust Mite, Dermatophagoides Pteronyssinus

Abstract

The critical equilibrium activity (humidity) for female, European house dust mites was found to be 0.73. Standardized females and males were found to weigh 5.83 ± 0.161μg and 3.48 ± 0.18μg, respectively. Using tritium-labeled water (HTO) as a tracer, both males and females were found to exchange water with the ambient air from a large and a small water compartment. Transpiration rate constants for each compartment were determined. Males transpire water at greater rates than females. LT50ʼs for 40% and 50% RH and 28°, 31° and 34°C ranged from 1.82 to 3.43 days. LT50ʼs for males were smaller than for females.