I'm just interested in microscopy as a bit of a past time and am fascinated
by the house dust mite. Please, what is an easy way to secure and prepare
to view these minute pests?
So far I have been using sellotape but it's a bit ackward to say the least!
Thanks,
David

From:	Aaron
Subject:	Re: Getting to view a house dust mite?
Date:	21 Dec 2004 00:11:16 -0600

David, Have you obtained a decent image of the bugs infesting your
home?

Aaron

On Tue, 14 Dec 2004 12:57:28 -0000, "David Sewell"
wrote:

>I'm just interested in microscopy as a bit of a past time and am fascinated
>by the house dust mite. Please, what is an easy way to secure and prepare
>to view these minute pests?
>So far I have been using sellotape but it's a bit ackward to say the least!
>Thanks,
>David
>
>

From:	David Sewell
Subject:	Re: Getting to view a house dust mite?
Date:	Tue, 21 Dec 2004 22:14:36 -0000

"Aaron" wrote in message
news:keffs0pfsq4mgq2n7rsm436iufdn5692ij@4ax.com...
> David, Have you obtained a decent image of the bugs infesting your
> home?
>
> Aaron
>
> On Tue, 14 Dec 2004 12:57:28 -0000, "David Sewell"
> wrote:
>
> >I'm just interested in microscopy as a bit of a past time and am
fascinated
> >by the house dust mite. Please, what is an easy way to secure and
prepare
> >to view these minute pests?
> >So far I have been using sellotape but it's a bit ackward to say the
least!
> >Thanks,
> >David
> >
> >
>

Thanks for that pdf link in your earlier post, it's really cool. Why is it
everytime one wants info on just about any subject you can guarantee it will
have it's roots in the states!
No better image than the link I posted earlier. I found the cheapest
adaptor for my digital camera to be around £80. I need to make a few
financial adjustments to manage that in the short term! "Acarus" looks
about the nearest I can compare to so far...

Regards,
David

From:	Gary G
Subject:	Re: Getting to view a house dust mite?
Date:	Tue, 21 Dec 2004 16:03:49 -0800

On Tue, 21 Dec 2004 22:14:36 -0000, "David Sewell"
wrote:

>
>"Aaron" wrote in message
>news:keffs0pfsq4mgq2n7rsm436iufdn5692ij@4ax.com...
>> David, Have you obtained a decent image of the bugs infesting your
>> home?
>>
>> Aaron
>>
>> On Tue, 14 Dec 2004 12:57:28 -0000, "David Sewell"
>> wrote:
>>
>> >I'm just interested in microscopy as a bit of a past time and am
>fascinated
>> >by the house dust mite. Please, what is an easy way to secure and
>prepare
>> >to view these minute pests?
>> >So far I have been using sellotape but it's a bit ackward to say the
>least!
>> >Thanks,
>> >David
>> >
>> >
>>
>
>Thanks for that pdf link in your earlier post, it's really cool. Why is it
>everytime one wants info on just about any subject you can guarantee it will
>have it's roots in the states!
>No better image than the link I posted earlier. I found the cheapest
>adaptor for my digital camera to be around £80. I need to make a few
>financial adjustments to manage that in the short term! "Acarus" looks
>about the nearest I can compare to so far...
>
>Regards,
>David
>

As I offered, send me some bugs and I will SEM them for you.

Gary Gaugler, Ph.D.
Microtechnics, Inc.
Granite Bay, CA 95746
916.791.8191
gary@microtechnics dot com

From:	David Sewell
Subject:	Re: Getting to view a house dust mite?
Date:	Wed, 22 Dec 2004 00:18:01 -0000

"Gary G" wrote in message
news:8eehs01am8h5bl8imcego34iquqpeqkhvv@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 21 Dec 2004 22:14:36 -0000, "David Sewell"
> wrote:
>
> >
> >"Aaron" wrote in message
> >news:keffs0pfsq4mgq2n7rsm436iufdn5692ij@4ax.com...
> >> David, Have you obtained a decent image of the bugs infesting your
> >> home?
> >>
> >> Aaron
> >>
> >> On Tue, 14 Dec 2004 12:57:28 -0000, "David Sewell"
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >> >I'm just interested in microscopy as a bit of a past time and am
> >fascinated
> >> >by the house dust mite. Please, what is an easy way to secure and
> >prepare
> >> >to view these minute pests?
> >> >So far I have been using sellotape but it's a bit ackward to say the
> >least!
> >> >Thanks,
> >> >David
> >> >
> >> >
> >>
> >
> >Thanks for that pdf link in your earlier post, it's really cool. Why is
it
> >everytime one wants info on just about any subject you can guarantee it
will
> >have it's roots in the states!
> >No better image than the link I posted earlier. I found the cheapest
> >adaptor for my digital camera to be around £80. I need to make a few
> >financial adjustments to manage that in the short term! "Acarus" looks
> >about the nearest I can compare to so far...
> >
> >Regards,
> >David
> >
>
> As I offered, send me some bugs and I will SEM them for you.
>
>
> Gary Gaugler, Ph.D.
> Microtechnics, Inc.
> Granite Bay, CA 95746
> 916.791.8191
> gary@microtechnics dot com

Thanks, wiill do asap
David

From:	Aaron
Subject:	Re: Getting to view a house dust mite?
Date:	14 Dec 2004 17:34:45 -0600

The marketers of air filters and allergy prevention equipment (plastic
bedding covers, synthetic pillows and mattresses etc.) have blown
tthis issue out of all proportion. There are all these enlarged
photos of mites to scare the prospective buyers. According to the
marketing hype 60% or more of the homes have them. I don't know where
the statistics originated.

Yes dust mites exist somewhere, but they need high humidity. warmth
and very poor laundry practices to thrive. If you live in a house
with central heating and air conditioning and you wash and change the
sheets and pillow cases regularly you will have a devil of a time
finding any. The heating and air conditoning keep the humidity too
low. Laundring the bedding and showering regularly keeps things clean.

On the Yahoo microscope group, we had a contest to see who would be
the first to find some dust mites and post some images. A group of us
living at different places around the globe were unable to find any.
I, personally, collected dust samples from all over my house, disected
feather pillows, examined used pillow cases and probed my old spring
mattress without finding a single mite.

So the fact that you are having trouble finding any is not a surprise.

If they were present, you should be able to detect them a 30X with a
stereomicroscope.

Aaron

On Tue, 14 Dec 2004 12:57:28 -0000, "David Sewell"
wrote:

>I'm just interested in microscopy as a bit of a past time and am fascinated
>by the house dust mite. Please, what is an easy way to secure and prepare
>to view these minute pests?
>So far I have been using sellotape but it's a bit ackward to say the least!
>Thanks,
>David
>
>

From:	David Sewell
Subject:	Re: Getting to view a house dust mite?
Date:	Wed, 15 Dec 2004 00:35:02 -0000

"Aaron" wrote in message
news:0pour05drgb7kk9q6jrjvgi0ppbdtpbl9u@4ax.com...
> The marketers of air filters and allergy prevention equipment (plastic
> bedding covers, synthetic pillows and mattresses etc.) have blown
> tthis issue out of all proportion. There are all these enlarged
> photos of mites to scare the prospective buyers. According to the
> marketing hype 60% or more of the homes have them. I don't know where
> the statistics originated.
>
> Yes dust mites exist somewhere, but they need high humidity. warmth
> and very poor laundry practices to thrive. If you live in a house
> with central heating and air conditioning and you wash and change the
> sheets and pillow cases regularly you will have a devil of a time
> finding any. The heating and air conditoning keep the humidity too
> low. Laundring the bedding and showering regularly keeps things clean.
>
> On the Yahoo microscope group, we had a contest to see who would be
> the first to find some dust mites and post some images. A group of us
> living at different places around the globe were unable to find any.
> I, personally, collected dust samples from all over my house, disected
> feather pillows, examined used pillow cases and probed my old spring
> mattress without finding a single mite.
>
> So the fact that you are having trouble finding any is not a surprise.
>
> If they were present, you should be able to detect them a 30X with a
> stereomicroscope.
>
> Aaron
>
> On Tue, 14 Dec 2004 12:57:28 -0000, "David Sewell"
> wrote:
>
> >I'm just interested in microscopy as a bit of a past time and am
fascinated
> >by the house dust mite. Please, what is an easy way to secure and
prepare
> >to view these minute pests?
> >So far I have been using sellotape but it's a bit ackward to say the
least!
> >Thanks,
> >David
> >
> >
>

Aaron you seem to totally misunderstand me. I am totally overwhelmed by
house dust mites (here in the UK ). Pick up a phone - crawling alive with
them. Pick up a tv remote - swarming alive with them. Look at any surface -
swarming alive with them.....I dispute this thing about them needing warmth
as I am talking about a situation where temperatures are around 45
farenheit up, but high humidity. In my judgement of the situation they are
happier with high humidity in preference to high temperature...perhaps I'm
experienceing a new strain - how exciting!!

Still want to know the "proffesional" way of preparing them.

Thanks again,
David

From:	Richard J Kinch
Subject:	Re: Getting to view a house dust mite?
Date:	Tue, 14 Dec 2004 23:22:33 -0600

David Sewell writes:

> Aaron you seem to totally misunderstand me. I am totally overwhelmed by
> house dust mites (here in the UK ).

Can you post a photo[micrograph]?

There are lots of mites. How do you know they are "dust mites"?

From:	David Sewell
Subject:	Re: Getting to view a house dust mite?
Date:	Wed, 15 Dec 2004 12:11:27 -0000

"Richard J Kinch" wrote in message
news:Xns95C03D00DA4Asomeconundrum@216.196.97.131...
> David Sewell writes:
>
> > Aaron you seem to totally misunderstand me. I am totally overwhelmed by
> > house dust mites (here in the UK ).
>
> Can you post a photo[micrograph]?
>
> There are lots of mites. How do you know they are "dust mites"?

They look like what I have seen on the net, they are where dust is, also I
notice they seem to cluster around any greasy finger prints. I do have a
digital camera but no device to attach it to my microscope. (Lomo C11 -not
C15 as I posted earlier). The best I could do was a snap with an Intel QX3,
in the link below:

http://www.hereat.freeserve.co.uk/photo/mite.jpg

Regards,
David

From:	Richard J Kinch
Subject:	Re: Getting to view a house dust mite?
Date:	Wed, 15 Dec 2004 14:20:46 -0600

David Sewell writes:

> http://www.hereat.freeserve.co.uk/photo/mite.jpg

Ewwww, ewww, ewwwwww.

Are you sure that's not a louse?

From:	David Sewell
Subject:	Re: Getting to view a house dust mite?
Date:	Wed, 15 Dec 2004 20:51:19 -0000

"Richard J Kinch" wrote in message
news:Xns95C09C18D7860someconundrum@216.196.97.131...
> David Sewell writes:
>
> > http://www.hereat.freeserve.co.uk/photo/mite.jpg
>
> Ewwww, ewww, ewwwwww.
>
> Are you sure that's not a louse?

With all that body hair? I don't think so. These here are living quite
independent lives it seems!
They look like some kind of mite. They just seem to fit most neatly into
the average internet website criteria for an house dust mite for want of a
better identity.

David

From:	David Sewell
Subject:	Re: Getting to view a house dust mite?
Date:	Wed, 15 Dec 2004 20:59:23 -0000

"David Sewell" wrote in message
news:cpq809$q2t$1@news8.svr.pol.co.uk...
>
> "Richard J Kinch" wrote in message
> news:Xns95C09C18D7860someconundrum@216.196.97.131...
> > David Sewell writes:
> >
> > > http://www.hereat.freeserve.co.uk/photo/mite.jpg
> >
> > Ewwww, ewww, ewwwwww.
> >
> > Are you sure that's not a louse?
>
> With all that body hair? I don't think so. These here are living quite
> independent lives it seems!
> They look like some kind of mite. They just seem to fit most neatly into
> the average internet website criteria for an house dust mite for want of a
> better identity.
>
> David
>
>
Forgot to add ...don't louse have 6 legs, my beasts have 8....

From:	ouroboros rex
Subject:	Re: Getting to view a house dust mite?
Date:	Thu, 16 Dec 2004 10:35:10 -0600

from a friend of a friend -

Definitely an astig. House dust mites belong to the family Pyroglyphididae
(including many Dermatophagoides spp.). I don't think that's what this
is. This looks more to me like something in the Acaridae -- probably a
Tyrophagus; maybe an Acarus. I wouldn't be able to say without microscopic
examination.

(good luck translating the above!)

These can be mounted in Hoyers medium after being pickled in 70% ethanol.
For permanent slides, the edges of the cover slips should be sealed with
Glyptal once they have dried, otherwise they will deteriorate rapidly.
Sometimes, bodies of the mites contain crystals of N-containing waste
products that do not clear in Hoyers; in this case, mites first need to be
processed through lactophenol clearing solution.

"David Sewell" wrote in message
news:cpq8fa$rd0$1@news6.svr.pol.co.uk...
>
> "David Sewell" wrote in message
> news:cpq809$q2t$1@news8.svr.pol.co.uk...
>>
>> "Richard J Kinch" wrote in message
>> news:Xns95C09C18D7860someconundrum@216.196.97.131...
>> > David Sewell writes:
>> >
>> > > http://www.hereat.freeserve.co.uk/photo/mite.jpg
>> >
>> > Ewwww, ewww, ewwwwww.
>> >
>> > Are you sure that's not a louse?
>>
>> With all that body hair? I don't think so. These here are living quite
>> independent lives it seems!
>> They look like some kind of mite. They just seem to fit most neatly
>> into
>> the average internet website criteria for an house dust mite for want of
>> a
>> better identity.
>>
>> David
>>
>>
> Forgot to add ...don't louse have 6 legs, my beasts have 8....
>
>

From:	David Sewell
Subject:	Re: Getting to view a house dust mite?
Date:	Sat, 18 Dec 2004 18:31:39 -0000

"ouroboros rex" wrote in message
news:cpsdfu$e6t$1@news.ks.uiuc.edu...
> from a friend of a friend -
>
> Definitely an astig. House dust mites belong to the family Pyroglyphididae
> (including many Dermatophagoides spp.). I don't think that's what this
> is. This looks more to me like something in the Acaridae -- probably a
> Tyrophagus; maybe an Acarus. I wouldn't be able to say without microscopic
> examination.
>
> (good luck translating the above!)
>
Hey! I searched for Acarus ( food mite) images, and found that they are
very similar to what I have here. Mine are about the size of house dust
mites (between 0.2mm-0.4mm), found only in the bedrooms during winter
monthes, with low temperatures and they cover all surfaces. I'm guessing
the only thing they can be feeding on is dust and fibres. I'm curious as to
why they are not in the kitchen if they are food mites...all very
interesting!
Thanks,
David

From:	ouroboros rex
Subject:	Re: Getting to view a house dust mite?
Date:	Wed, 15 Dec 2004 10:40:25 -0600

"David Sewell" wrote in message
news:cpp9hi$2v4$1@news6.svr.pol.co.uk...
>
> "Richard J Kinch" wrote in message
> news:Xns95C03D00DA4Asomeconundrum@216.196.97.131...
>> David Sewell writes:
>>
>> > Aaron you seem to totally misunderstand me. I am totally overwhelmed
>> > by
>> > house dust mites (here in the UK ).
>>
>> Can you post a photo[micrograph]?
>>
>> There are lots of mites. How do you know they are "dust mites"?
>
> They look like what I have seen on the net, they are where dust is, also I
> notice they seem to cluster around any greasy finger prints. I do have a
> digital camera but no device to attach it to my microscope. (Lomo C11 -not
> C15 as I posted earlier). The best I could do was a snap with an Intel
> QX3,
> in the link below:
>
> http://www.hereat.freeserve.co.uk/photo/mite.jpg
>
> Regards,
> David
>
>

If it was me, I would fix them in alcohol for like an hour, then run them
up to 100%alcohol, the xylene, then mount in canada balsam, the way my
entomology buddy does. You can fish them out of the alcohol with small
tweezers to wash away the dust, etc.

You could rinse them off the cello tape with xylene or alcohol to start,
whichever dissolves the cemeny on the tape.

From:	Gary G
Subject:	Re: Getting to view a house dust mite?
Date:	Wed, 15 Dec 2004 09:04:58 -0800

On Wed, 15 Dec 2004 12:11:27 -0000, "David Sewell"
wrote:

>
>"Richard J Kinch" wrote in message
>news:Xns95C03D00DA4Asomeconundrum@216.196.97.131...
>> David Sewell writes:
>>
>> > Aaron you seem to totally misunderstand me. I am totally overwhelmed by
>> > house dust mites (here in the UK ).
>>
>> Can you post a photo[micrograph]?
>>
>> There are lots of mites. How do you know they are "dust mites"?
>
>They look like what I have seen on the net, they are where dust is, also I
>notice they seem to cluster around any greasy finger prints. I do have a
>digital camera but no device to attach it to my microscope. (Lomo C11 -not
>C15 as I posted earlier). The best I could do was a snap with an Intel QX3,
>in the link below:
>
>http://www.hereat.freeserve.co.uk/photo/mite.jpg
>
>Regards,
>David
>

That does not look like a dust mite. Check out this pix and
compare:

http://www.microtechnics.com/mite1-3bc.jpg

this is indeed a dust mite. It can't be seen with my naked eyes.

Gary Gaugler, Ph.D.
Microtechnics, Inc.
Granite Bay, CA 95746
916.791.8191
gary@microtechnics dot com

From:	David Sewell
Subject:	Re: Getting to view a house dust mite?
Date:	Wed, 15 Dec 2004 18:08:57 -0000

"Gary G" wrote in message
news:1kr0s09sde6o02tag89hgbh9vtciuc75n3@4ax.com...
> On Wed, 15 Dec 2004 12:11:27 -0000, "David Sewell"
> wrote:
>
> >
> >"Richard J Kinch" wrote in message
> >news:Xns95C03D00DA4Asomeconundrum@216.196.97.131...
> >> David Sewell writes:
> >>
> >> > Aaron you seem to totally misunderstand me. I am totally overwhelmed
by
> >> > house dust mites (here in the UK ).
> >>
> >> Can you post a photo[micrograph]?
> >>
> >> There are lots of mites. How do you know they are "dust mites"?
> >
> >They look like what I have seen on the net, they are where dust is, also
I
> >notice they seem to cluster around any greasy finger prints. I do have a
> >digital camera but no device to attach it to my microscope. (Lomo
C11 -not
> >C15 as I posted earlier). The best I could do was a snap with an Intel
QX3,
> >in the link below:
> >
> >http://www.hereat.freeserve.co.uk/photo/mite.jpg
> >
> >Regards,
> >David
> >
>
> That does not look like a dust mite. Check out this pix and
> compare:
>
> http://www.microtechnics.com/mite1-3bc.jpg
>
> this is indeed a dust mite. It can't be seen with my naked eyes.
>
>
> Gary Gaugler, Ph.D.
> Microtechnics, Inc.
> Granite Bay, CA 95746
> 916.791.8191
> gary@microtechnics dot com

Thanks. As that's an electron micrograph I find it difficult to make a
comparison. What could be the mites I have here then? The photo link I
posted was with the QX3 set to 200x magnification. I read on the net that
house dust mites are about 0.4mm. I can see the mites here quite easily
without optical aids as they move.

David

From:	Aaron
Subject:	Re: Getting to view a house dust mite?
Date:	15 Dec 2004 16:04:12 -0600

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 sheet 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"
wrote:

>
>"Gary G" wrote in message
>news:1kr0s09sde6o02tag89hgbh9vtciuc75n3@4ax.com...
>> On Wed, 15 Dec 2004 12:11:27 -0000, "David Sewell"
>> wrote:
>>
>> >
>> >"Richard J Kinch" wrote in message
>> >news:Xns95C03D00DA4Asomeconundrum@216.196.97.131...
>> >> David Sewell writes:
>> >>
>> >> > Aaron you seem to totally misunderstand me. I am totally overwhelmed
>by
>> >> > house dust mites (here in the UK ).
>> >>
>> >> Can you post a photo[micrograph]?
>> >>
>> >> There are lots of mites. How do you know they are "dust mites"?
>> >
>> >They look like what I have seen on the net, they are where dust is, also
>I
>> >notice they seem to cluster around any greasy finger prints. I do have a
>> >digital camera but no device to attach it to my microscope. (Lomo
>C11 -not
>> >C15 as I posted earlier). The best I could do was a snap with an Intel
>QX3,
>> >in the link below:
>> >
>> >http://www.hereat.freeserve.co.uk/photo/mite.jpg
>> >
>> >Regards,
>> >David
>> >
>>
>> That does not look like a dust mite. Check out this pix and
>> compare:
>>
>> http://www.microtechnics.com/mite1-3bc.jpg
>>
>> this is indeed a dust mite. It can't be seen with my naked eyes.
>>
>>
>> Gary Gaugler, Ph.D.
>> Microtechnics, Inc.
>> Granite Bay, CA 95746
>> 916.791.8191
>> gary@microtechnics dot com
>
>Thanks. As that's an electron micrograph I find it difficult to make a
>comparison. What could be the mites I have here then? The photo link I
>posted was with the QX3 set to 200x magnification. I read on the net that
>house dust mites are about 0.4mm. I can see the mites here quite easily
>without optical aids as they move.
>
>David
>

From:	David Sewell
Subject:	Re: Getting to view a house dust mite?
Date:	Wed, 15 Dec 2004 22:28:18 -0000

"Aaron" 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 sheet 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"
> 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

From:	Gary G
Subject:	Re: Getting to view a house dust mite?
Date:	Wed, 15 Dec 2004 17:48:58 -0800

On Wed, 15 Dec 2004 22:28:18 -0000, "David Sewell"
wrote:

[snip]

>>
>> On Wed, 15 Dec 2004 18:08:57 -0000, "David Sewell"
>> 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
>

Send me some specimens in methanol or acetone and I can image them
using variable pressure SEM.

My SEM pix of the dust mite was done at about 2KX.

Gary Gaugler, Ph.D.
Microtechnics, Inc.
Granite Bay, CA 95746
916.791.8191
gary@microtechnics dot com

From:	Aaron
Subject:	Re: Getting to view a house dust mite?
Date:	16 Dec 2004 00:10:15 -0600

On Wed, 15 Dec 2004 17:48:58 -0800, Gary G
wrote:

>My SEM pix of the dust mite was done at about 2KX.
>
>Gary Gaugler, Ph.D.
>Microtechnics, Inc.
>Granite Bay, CA 95746
>916.791.8191
>gary@microtechnics dot com

How big is the mite? Can you estimate the size from your image?

Aaron

From:	Richard J Kinch
Subject:	Re: Getting to view a house dust mite?
Date:	Thu, 16 Dec 2004 01:47:51 -0600

Gary G writes:

> My SEM pix of the dust mite was done at about 2KX.

Specimen was collected where? Prepared for SEM how?

The appendages appear to be withdrawn, not a lifelike pose, am I correct?

From:	Gary G
Subject:	Re: Getting to view a house dust mite?
Date:	Thu, 16 Dec 2004 12:56:25 -0800

On Thu, 16 Dec 2004 01:47:51 -0600, Richard J Kinch
wrote:

>Gary G writes:
>
>> My SEM pix of the dust mite was done at about 2KX.
>
>Specimen was collected where? Prepared for SEM how?
>
>The appendages appear to be withdrawn, not a lifelike pose, am I correct?

No idea where the specimen was collected. I bought several hundred in
methanol. From the data I got at that time, these mites were first
"captured" in circa 1946. They, and 40,000 others, were sitting in
methanol since then. I just dumped a few out of the shipping bottle
and let them sink into a double sticky carbon tab on a SEM stub.

The reason for appearance of withdrawn is basically implosion due to
non-fixation of the specimens and proper CPD before SEM. I still have
many more in the original bottle which might be able to be re-hydrated
and then properly prepared. Now, I would use VP at low temperature
and perhaps be able to avoid fixing and drying.

The legs also pull in just like spiders do when they die. It is
easier to pull spider legs apart than those of the mite! Anyway, I
never spent any more time on the mites since they were not a popular
subject. And the basic specimens were not all that great to begin
with. Based on my recollection, these were about 1u across. They
were viewed using stereo zoom at about 150X (not real easy to see).

Gary Gaugler, Ph.D.
Microtechnics, Inc.
Granite Bay, CA 95746
916.791.8191
gary@microtechnics dot com

From:	Richard J Kinch
Subject:	Re: Getting to view a house dust mite?
Date:	Sun, 19 Dec 2004 22:59:55 -0600

Gary G writes:

> Based on my recollection, these were about 1u across.

1u = 1 micrometer?

From:	Gary G
Subject:	Re: Getting to view a house dust mite?
Date:	Sun, 19 Dec 2004 21:26:21 -0800

On Sun, 19 Dec 2004 22:59:55 -0600, Richard J Kinch
wrote:

>Gary G writes:
>
>> Based on my recollection, these were about 1u across.
>
>1u = 1 micrometer?

Yes.

Gary Gaugler, Ph.D.
Microtechnics, Inc.
Granite Bay, CA 95746
916.791.8191
gary@microtechnics dot com

From:	Richard J Kinch
Subject:	Re: Getting to view a house dust mite?
Date:	Mon, 20 Dec 2004 15:08:02 -0600

Gary G writes:

>>> Based on my recollection, these were about 1u across.
>>
>>1u = 1 micrometer?
>
> Yes.

Hmmm ... I thought these critters are reputed to be 200 or 300 u, then.
And that seems offhand to be roughly a lower limit for something that walks
on legs.

From:	GTO
Subject:	Re: Getting to view a house dust mite?
Date:	Tue, 21 Dec 2004 02:05:37 GMT

Yes. Neither Demodex folliculorum nor Dermatophagoides farinae are smaller
than 0.1 mm (100 um). But their skin fragments have an average size of just
6 to 10 um. Maybe is was a skin fragment (?).

Gregor

"Richard J Kinch" wrote in message
news:Xns95C5A41DB9BCAsomeconundrum@216.196.97.131...
> Gary G writes:
>
>>>> Based on my recollection, these were about 1u across.
>>>
>>>1u = 1 micrometer?
>>
>> Yes.
>
> Hmmm ... I thought these critters are reputed to be 200 or 300 u, then.
> And that seems offhand to be roughly a lower limit for something that
> walks
> on legs.

From:	Gary G
Subject:	Re: Getting to view a house dust mite?
Date:	Mon, 20 Dec 2004 18:10:28 -0800

On Mon, 20 Dec 2004 15:08:02 -0600, Richard J Kinch
wrote:

>Gary G writes:
>
>>>> Based on my recollection, these were about 1u across.
>>>
>>>1u = 1 micrometer?
>>
>> Yes.
>
>Hmmm ... I thought these critters are reputed to be 200 or 300 u, then.
>And that seems offhand to be roughly a lower limit for something that walks
>on legs.

Perhaps these that I have are not on an Atkins diet.

0.5u - 1u big deal. I truly do not have quantitavid data to support
one size or another. But I do know that the critters are very small.

Gary Gaugler, Ph.D.
Microtechnics, Inc.
Granite Bay, CA 95746
916.791.8191
gary@microtechnics dot com

From:	Richard J Kinch
Subject:	Re: Getting to view a house dust mite?
Date:	Mon, 20 Dec 2004 22:50:09 -0600

Gary G writes:

>>Hmmm ... I thought these critters are reputed to be 200 or 300 u,
>>then. And that seems offhand to be roughly a lower limit for
>>something that walks on legs.

> 0.5u - 1u big deal. I truly do not have quantitavid data to support
> one size or another. But I do know that the critters are very small.

Eh? I can't follow this gibberish.

From:	Repeating Rifle
Subject:	Re: Getting to view a house dust mite?
Date:	Wed, 15 Dec 2004 06:42:49 GMT

in article Xns95C03D00DA4Asomeconundrum@216.196.97.131, Richard J Kinch at
kinch@truetex.com wrote on 12/14/04 9:22 PM:

> David Sewell writes:
>
>> Aaron you seem to totally misunderstand me. I am totally overwhelmed by
>> house dust mites (here in the UK ).
>
> Can you post a photo[micrograph]?
>
> There are lots of mites. How do you know they are "dust mites"?

I have never seen a dust mite as far as I know. But I have seen mites on
blackberries. I can barely see them as specs without a lens. With a hand
lens, they are quit clear. I never thought of actually looking at them with
a compound microscope. I am now eating them with impunity.

How do you go about collecting dust mites so as not too much background
material?

Bill

From:	David Sewell
Subject:	Re: Getting to view a house dust mite?
Date:	Wed, 15 Dec 2004 12:18:56 -0000

"Repeating Rifle" wrote in message
news:BDE51CF5.2CB26%salmonegg@sbcglobal.net...
>
> How do you go about collecting dust mites so as not too much background
> material?
>
> Bill
>

That's my problem. I've just been picking them up with a piece of sticky
tape and viewing them directly under the scope. Very awkward and fiddly,
but it's the easiest way I thought of so far...

David

From:	Richard J Kinch
Subject:	Re: Getting to view a house dust mite?
Date:	Tue, 14 Dec 2004 15:43:03 -0600

David Sewell writes:

> I'm just interested in microscopy as a bit of a past time and am
> fascinated by the house dust mite. Please, what is an easy way to
> secure and prepare to view these minute pests?

Like the formula for rabbit stew, first catch the rabbit.

Do you actually have a specimen? They're not as common as the duct-
cleaning swindlers want you to believe.

The scary photos you've seen are electron micrographs. Critters don't look
like that in an optical microscope.

From:	David Sewell
Subject:	Re: Getting to view a house dust mite?
Date:	Tue, 14 Dec 2004 21:58:53 -0000

"Richard J Kinch" wrote in message
news:Xns95BFAA0CB2497someconundrum@216.196.97.131...
> David Sewell writes:
>
> > I'm just interested in microscopy as a bit of a past time and am
> > fascinated by the house dust mite. Please, what is an easy way to
> > secure and prepare to view these minute pests?
>
> Like the formula for rabbit stew, first catch the rabbit.
>
> Do you actually have a specimen? They're not as common as the duct-
> cleaning swindlers want you to believe.

Don't I just! They are are everywhere I look. No shortage - just don't
know a good way to capture and display them.
>
> The scary photos you've seen are electron micrographs. Critters don't
look
> like that in an optical microscope.

Look scary enough to me so far i.e. on sellotape and under a lomo c15.....

Thanks,
David