A Survey of House Dust Mites (Acari: Pyroglyphidae and Cheyletidae) in Israel

A total of 291 house dust samples were systematically collected at 5 different sites in Israel: additional samples were collected elsewhere. Ninety-one percent of the samples contained mites. Of the isolated mites, 90% were pyroglyphids, with 75% of these Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, 10.5% D. farinae, and 3.6% Euroglyphus maynei. Dermatophagoides farinae and E. maynei are reported for the 1st time from Israel, the former almost exclusively from the Irano-Turanean phytogeographic zone. Blomia tropicalis (Glycyphagidae) represented 2% of the house dust mite collections but was found only in the Mediterranean phytogeographic zone. Cheyletidae constituted 5.7% of the house dust mites. Other species of mites were also isolated. The maximum number of house dust mites recorded was 6500 per gram of house dust. The highest numbers were isolated in samples from humid areas. Twice as many mites were found in sofas as compared to beds, while much lower numbers were isolated from wardrobes and carpets. Relatively low numbers of mites were found in the spring (April).