Kirby speaks with BDN about dust mites in the home
Clay Kirby, an associate scientist and insect diagnostician with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, was interviewed by the Bangor Daily News for an article about the millions of dust mites that live in homes. Too small to be visible to the naked human eye, dust mites prefer areas that are warm and humid, such as in the bedding and mattresses under sleeping human bodies or in overstuffed chairs and sofas, according to Kirby. “Anyplace like that you — or your pets — spend any amount of time is where they are going to be,” Kirby said. “Your — or your pet’s — transpiration is going to provide the proper temperatures and humidity for dust mites to survive.” Kirby said it is next to impossible to completely eradicate dust mites from the home, but there are steps that can help reduce their populations. Dust mites seem happiest and most prolific in conditions around 70 to 80 percent humidity and between 75 and 80 degrees, he said. “Since they don’t seem to thrive below 60 percent humidity, reducing [the humidity] is one approach [and] if you heat with wood in Maine, that really decreases humidity in your house,” Kirby said.