Water balance

Abstract

What ultimately determines where dust mites can live? Access to adequate food and a favourable habitat are inconsequential unless the mites can fend off dehydration, reach maturity and reproduce. The ability to control body water under fluctuating conditions of temperature and humidity is a key constraint that determines where in homes dust mites can survive; in which homes, and in which parts of the world. It is commonly assumed that humidity is the major factor controlling distribution and abundance of dust mites. This is only partly true. Water balance depends on atmospheric humidity, but also on temperature. In fact, it is impossible to consider the effects of humidity without also taking temperature into account.