[Repellent effect of wood odors on mites]

Since mites are known to react to odor, the repellent effect of wood odors on mites was measured with a simple indicative method of mite evasion behavior. This experiment confirmed that the odors of three types of trees including Hinoki (Chamaecyparis obtusa), Pine (Pinusdensiflora) and Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica), had repellent effects on Tyrophagus putrescentiae, Dermatophagoides farinae and D. pteronyssinus, mite specics which are comminly found in houses. The effects of Lauan (Shorea spp.) and Spruce (Picea sitchensis) were less than those of Hinoki, Pine and Cedar in stimulating evasion response. In comparing the evasion behaviors of three species of mites to wood odors, the responses of D. farinae and D. pteronyssinus seemed to be stronger than those of T. putrescentiae. Very little differences in responses between males and females of these mites were seen.