Infestivity of Psoroptes cuniculi in rabbits.

Starving Psoroptes cuniculi were found to survive off the host for 4 to 21 days at relative humidities between 20% and 99% and temperatures between 5 and 30 C. Within these extremes, survival was greatest at low temperature and high relative humidity (RH). Mites were infestive for at least 50% of their survival times and may have infested new hosts in contaminated facilities. A temperature of 40 C and 20% RH maintained for 24 hours caused 100% mortality in test mites. Other selected combinations of temperature above 40 C and RH less than or equal to 75% also caused 100% mortality in 2 days or less. These conditions could be used to control these mites in vacated contaminated premises.