Conventional methods of house dust mite control often involve chemical pesticides, raising concerns about their potential hazards. Mint essential oil presents a natural and eco-friendly alternative for managing house dust mite infestations. In this study, ten varieties of mint plants were cultivated, and their essential oils were extracted through steam distillation. The toxicity of these mint essential oils and their main compounds on adult house dust mites was assessed using contact+fumigant mortality bioassays and vapour-phase mortality bioassays. A repellent bioassay was also conducted to evaluate the repellent effects of mint oils and main compound on house dust mites. The toxicity of mint essential oils varied among the different varieties, with some demonstrating higher potency in eradicating house dust mites. Mint oils showed both acaricidal action and repellent effects on house dust mites, with certain varieties exhibiting stronger efficacy. Linalool as active compounds was identified as key contributors to the acaricidal properties of mint essential oil. Mint essential oil, particularly certain varieties rich in active compounds, shows promise as a natural and effective agent for controlling house dust mites. Its dual functionality in killing and repelling house dust mites, along with its environmentally friendly nature, make it a viable alternative to chemical pesticides for house dust mite management. Further research on the specific mechanisms of action and long-term effectiveness of mint essential oil in house dust mite control is warranted to explore its full potential as a sustainable pest management solution.

Introduction: House dust mites (HDMs) are major indoor allergens worldwide, with Dermatophagoides farinae being one of the most prevalent species. Temperature is a key driver of mite development, but the thermal biology of HDMs remains poorly characterized. Despite the medical importance of house dust mites, comprehensive thermal performance data across ecologically relevant temperature ranges remain limited, particularly for upper thermal thresholds that will become increasingly relevant under climate warming. Methods: We evaluated the development, survival, and fecundity of D. farinae under five constant temperatures (15, 20, 25, 30, and 35°C) at 75 ± 5% relative humidity using the age-stage, two-sex life table framework. Results: Developmental duration decreased significantly from 15 to 30°C but increased at 35°C due to thermal inhibition. The shortest pre-adult development time was 19.14 days at 30°C, while the longest was 68.98 days at 15°C. Egg-to-adult survival was highest at 25°C (88.6%) and lowest at 35°C (35.7%). The net reproductive rate (R ₀ ) peaked at 25°C (33.96 offspring per female), whereas the intrinsic rate of increase (r _m ) was highest at 30°C (0.0598 day ⁻¹ ), reflecting the differential contributions of fecundity versus developmental speed to population performance. D. farinae exhibits optimal development at 25–30°C, with severe thermal stress above 35°C. Discussion: These baseline thermal performance data provide essential parameters for population models aimed at assessing climate change impacts. Our results suggest that climate warming may initially increase HDM populations in temperate regions but could restrict their distribution in areas where thermal thresholds are exceeded. These findings provide baseline data for assessing allergen exposure risks under future climate scenarios.

Introduction: Dust mites are a prevalent indoor allergen contributing to respiratory diseases like allergic rhinitis and asthma. Eucalyptus citriodora essential oil, known for its balsamic odor and repellent effects on various pests, has been scantily investigated for its impacts on dust mites. Methods: The chemical composition of the essential oil and its head-space extracted from E. citriodora was determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The toxicity of the oil and its compounds were assessed through contact-fumigant and vapor-phase mortality bioassays. Repellent effects were evaluated using a fabric-contact assay. Data were analyzed using probit regression to determine LC ₅₀ values. Results: The essential oil contained seven main compounds, and citronellal, citronellol and citronellyl acetate were the most abundant in the oil's volatile, accounting fora total of 88.22%. Citronellal exhibited the highest toxicity, and the essential oil itself showed strong toxicity with the LC ₅₀ of 63.94 and 84.53 μL/cm against Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus , 60.72 and 75.88 μL/cm against Dermatophagoides farinae , respectively. In vapor-phase assays, citronellal and ethyl phenylacetate caused 100% mortality. Discussion: Citronellol had the highest repellent effect, and the essential oil, 1,8-cineole, and citronellyl acetate also showed significant repellency rates. E. citriodora essential oil and its compounds particularly citronellal and citronellol, showed high potential for effective dust mite control due to their natural origin, strong toxicity and repellency impacts. Thus, E. citriodora essential oil is a natural, eco-friendly alternative to synthetic acaricides, providing a scientific basis for the control of indoor dust mite allergies.