Photo: Electron microscope image of a female Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. Courtesy
While Colorado’s dry climate and high altitude can offer some relief for certain allergies, the state has its own unique challenges. Pollen from trees, weeds, and grasses, as well as dust mites and mold spores, are common allergens in the region and can lead to significant allergy symptoms…
— from “Allergies in Denver: Here’s What You Need To Know” on AspireAllergy.com, July, 2022.
Yesterday, I spent some time learning about how scientists predict the effect of hygrothermal conditions on populations of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus.
Dust mites.
Being that I live with them, and they live with me. They even share my bed. I mean, the dust mites. Not the scientists.
According to the scientists who study these kinds of things, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus have sex and procreate in my bed.
Something even I don’t do.
Above, at the top of today’s column, our editor has included an electron microscope image of a female dust mite, either before or after having sex. To me, she looks tired. So, probably after.
Here’s another photo of dust mites, apparently involved in a football pileup at the line of scrimmage. Or some similar activity.
I have no idea how the photographer got this photo. Dust mites are only about three times the width of a human hair. But I guess when you get a pileup like this, they’re easier to find.
From a scientific article on Springer.com:
A simple mite population index (MPI) model is presented which predicts the effect on house dust mite populations of any combination of temperature and relative humidity (RH). For each combination, the output is an index, or multiplication factor, such that 1.1 indicates 10% population growth and 0.9 indicates 10% population decline. To provide data for the model, laboratory experiments have been carried out using lab cultures of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. The population change was observed for mites held in steady-state conditions at different combinations of temperature and RH over 21 days.
Back in 2014, U.S. Navy Admiral William H. McRaven went viral for his commencement speech at the University of Texas at Austin. During the speech, Admiral McRaven said, “If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.”
The rationale is that you accomplish one task, which inspires you to complete additional tasks while also maintaining an appreciation for the little things in life (like coming home to a made bed).
While Admiral McRaven’s suggestion may resonate with forward-thinkers, Dr. Myro Figura, MD, has been advising people against making their bed in the morning. According to Dr. Figura, making your bed too soon after waking may create a haven for dust mites.
“Whether you have a partner or not, you are never sleeping alone,” he says. “There’s over 10 million of them in an average mattress. If you have a two-year-old pillow, 10 percent of its weight are dust mites…”
Dust mites, and their droppings, that is.
Mites don’t drink water. They absorb the moisture from your body while you sleep. If you make your bed immediately after waking up, you’re trapping all of that moisture in.
And the dust mites? “They’re having a party, they’re procreating and growing…”
Which might explain the color photo shown above.
A 2006 study published in Experimental & Applied Acarology suggested that leaving your bed unmade could help keep humidity low enough to seriously discourage dust mites.
“We know that mites can only survive by taking in water from the atmosphere using small glands on the outside of their body,” study author Stephen Pretlove, PhD, said when the findings were published. “Something as simple as leaving a bed unmade during the day can remove moisture from the sheets and mattress, so the mites will dehydrate and eventually die.”
I never make my bed anyway, but apparently I now have an excuse, provided by a couple of people with impressive post-graduate degrees. Nothing makes me happier than having an excuse for something I was going to do regardless.
However, the comment by Dr. Pretlove… about the mites dehydrating and dying… I found that terribly disturbing.
It was bad enough, thinking that someone else was having sex in my bed.
But… sleeping in a bed full of dead bodies? Yuck!
I made my bed this morning, immediately after waking up.