Mite pest control tests

As mites are very small organisms, working with them is difficult and requires extensive experience and technical skills. Figure 1 shows a larval and a female house dust mite. Adult dust mites grow to be only 0.4 mm in length. Figure 2 shows a larva of the chigger mite with a body size of 0.1 mm.

Fig. 1: Right: Adult house dust mite (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) with a body size of 0.4 mm, left: larva.

Fig. 2: A chigger mite (Neotrombicula autumnalis) larva, the only parasitic stage of the species, walking on a blade of grass.

Insect Services applies the following for testing mite control systems:

• Textiles (carpets / clothing)
  • Control of dust mites
  • Evaluation of knock down efficacy
• Acaricides
  • Direct spray tests
  • Residual effect tests
• Mite repellents
  • Evaluation of mite repellent efficacy against chigger mites on humans in accordance with the OPPTS 810.3700 guideline
  • Testing of ultrasonic devices
• Attractants

Target organisms:

• Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (House dust mite)
• Dermanyssus gallinae (Poultry red mite)
• Neotrombicula autumnalis (Chigger mite) – only at certain seasons
• Further species on demand