Development and fecundity of Dermatophagoides farinae (Acari: Pyroglyphidae)

Duration of the life cycle at 16, 23, 30, and 35 degrees C and fecundity at 23 degrees C and 75% RH were determined for the American house dust mite, Dermatophagoides farinae Hughes. Lengths of the life cycles at 23 and 30 degrees C were 35.6 +/- 4.4 and 17.5 +/- 1.2 d, respectively. Few eggs completed development to the adult stage at 16 and 35 degrees C. At 23 degrees C and 75% RH, the preoviposition period was 3.7 +/- 1.1 d following emergence of the female from the tritonymph. The average reproductive period was 34.0 +/- 10.7 d with a mean total of 65.5 +/- 17.4 eggs produced per female. Female longevity after cessation of egg production was 63.3 +/- 64.6 d.