| abstract | the 9 of the 12 mite species prevalent in house dust of northwestern Switzerland (Basel and environs) were cultured on a 1:1 mixture of human skin-scales and yeast at 25±2 °C and a relative humidity of 78±2 %. Trials to rear the mites on simple media such as monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides failed. The cultured mites were Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, D. farinae, Euroglyphus maynei, Glycyphagus destructor, G. privatus, Chortoglyphus arcuatus, Gohieria fusca, Tyrophagus putrescentiae and Acarus siro. Methods of controlling mites in house dust are discussed. All stages of D. pteronyssinus are destroyed at a relative humidity of 20-50 % within 18 to 26 days and a temperatures of 50-55 °C within 1-4 hours. |