The effect of constant temperature and moisture to house dust mites Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae

House dust mites Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae inhabit house dust worldwide. These commensals are for humans harmful especially as producers of many allergens. According to Klimov-OConnor's hypothesis, these mites had a parasitic ancestor who had evolved into a free-living form during the evolution. This thesis focuses on another possible aspect of this transition: it compares optimal hygrothermal conditions for development, reproduction, and population growth of Dermatophagoides dust mites with those which are preferred by the house dust mite's related - parasitic genera Sarcoptes and Psoroptes. Since all these three genera are closely related, it was analyzed whether their hygrothermal preferences would be similar in any respect. However, the results of this literature review suggest that dust mites - compared to their parasitic relatives - prefer combinations of lower temperatures and humidity. Like the representatives of the convergent group of storage mites - e. g. Tyrophagus putrescentiae and Acarus siro. Apart from the comparison of the preferred conditions of previously mentioned genera, this thesis also presents a summary of the effect of different combinations of temperatures and humidity on the duration of development, fecundity, and the population growth of..