Re: Getting to view a house dust mite?

From: David Sewell (david_at_hereat.freeserve.co.uk)
Date: 12/15/04 

Date: Wed, 15 Dec 2004 22:28:18 -0000

"Aaron" <nghy@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:ur81s0tud6agntod9vigmuq2eacdmd9pvb@4ax.com...
> I tend to agree with Gary that you may some other infestation.. There
> are lots of facts that do not fit. Here is a fact *** and a drawing
> that may be helpful.
>
> http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2157.html
>
> Dust mites are 0.25-0.30mm. At 200X magnification the mite would
> more than fill the field of view. Your description of where they are
> found is also strange. If these are found on phones and TV remotes
> that is atypical. The typical preferred location would be in your
> bedding and rugs Most times the only indicators of the dust mite
> infestation are allergic reactions to the feces. Otherwise dust mites
> are very stealthy..
>
> There are other mites, spiders and small pests that infest the home.
> I suggest that you seek professional help with identifucation and
> control. .
>
> That said, the preparation of slides for examination by microscope is
> a different but interesting topic. It is very helpful to have a
> stereomicroscope to assist in the process as you can observe the
> process, have working space under the lenses and retain a 3-D
> perspective which aids in controling the tools.
>
> Collecting the critters with cellophane tape is not a bad first step.
> Are you familiar with the trick of using mineral oil to make the tape
> transparent. Put some oil on the glsss slide. place the tape sticky
> side to the glass and last put a thin layer of mineral oil on the top
> surface of the tape. The tape will become transpatent and you can make
> oibservations through the tape.
>
> Another quick and easy way to make a temporary mount would be to place
> a small amount of viscous immersion oil on the end of a disecting
> needle or a pin stuck into the eraser end of a pencil. Use this probe
> to pickup one or a few of the insects. Transfer the insects picked up
> to a glass slide with a drop of immersion oil in the center. Place a
> cover glass over the specimen being careful to avoid bubbles in the
> oil. You may need to use bits of cover glass as spacers to elevate
> the main cover glass. This should enable you to study them for a few
> hours.
>
> To make a permanent mount requires killing the insects, dehydrating
> the body and mounting the specimen
>
> Here is a completeand authoritative treatis on the subject
>
> http://www.sel.barc.usda.gov/selhome/collpres/collpres.pdf
>
> Aaron
>
>
> On Wed, 15 Dec 2004 18:08:57 -0000, "David Sewell"
> <david@hereat.freeserve.co.uk> wrote:
>
Hey, Aaron thanks. Thats the best and most useful reply and what I was
basically looking for. But all very interesting. Top marks and thanks.

David