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House Dust Mites: Natural History, Control, and Research Techniques presents a complete synthesis of biological information on dust mites from both an ecological and evolutionary perspective. This book allows readers to consume current knowledge on house dust mite biology as well as methods and techniques to conduct personal research. Written by an expert on house dust mite biological research, this book begins with an explanation of the medical importance of understanding dust mites due to their human health repercussions, including asthma and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. It discusses various species, exposure effects, best practices for habitat reduction and preventative options. The book then goes on to detail the house dust mite's biology and behavior, such as food and nutrition, water intake, reproduction, colonization and preferred climates. This is an ideal resource for entomologists and acarologists, as well as medical professionals seeking knowledge on insect-borne allergens.
List of contents
1. The medical significance of dust mites
2. Mites and the science of acarology
3. Global house dust faunas
4. Water junks - metabolic water intake and conservation
5. Case studies of dust mites and their allergens
6. Mite habitats
7. The life cycle of astigmatic mites and their natural habitats
8. Modeled population dynamics
9. House mite food and nutrition
10. Current and future preventative studies
About the author
Rob de Boer is an entomological researcher and retired professor from the University of Amsterdam. He received his PhD in Entomology from the University of Amsterdam and went on to lead research in the Hugo de Vries Laboratorium, the Laboratory of Experimental Entomology, and the Laboratory of Molecular Biology. His research expertise is in acarology (spider mites, ticks, dust mites) and bacteriology, specifically Lyme disease. He has published numerous scholarly articles on these topics.
