Straw Itch Mite Dermatitis Caused By Pyemotes Ventricosus

Summary Nineteen cases of Pyemotes ventricosus (straw itch mite) dermatitis which occurred in DeKalb County, Georgia, U.S.A., during 1961–1963, are reported. Two patients were observed three successive times with this condition, and one patient had concurrent chigger bites which allowed diagnostic differences to be noted. The cases were associated with mites parasitizing Anobium punctatum (common furniture beetle) in the floor joists of a house. Clinical features, epidemiology and entomologie aspects are discussed. It is emphasized that straw itch mite dermatitis is a distinct clinical entity which can be differentiated from other dermatologie conditions on a clinical basis, and that elimination of the host is basic to permanent elimination of the parasite.