Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Mite

Mites are a diverse group of minute arachnids in the subclass Acari (class Arachnida), encompassing approximately 48,000 described species (as of 2025) that inhabit virtually every terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem on Earth, from soil and freshwater to marine depths and extreme environments like Antarctica.^[1] Typically measuring 0.08 to 1 mm in length—though some, like certain ticks and velvet mites, can reach 10–20 mm—they lack antennae and possess a body divided into a gnathosoma (containing mouthparts) and an idiosoma (bearing legs and sensory structures), with most species featuring eight legs in adults following a hexapod larval stage.^[2] Their life cycles generally include a hexapod larva and up to three octopod nymphal stages, enabling adaptations to free-living, parasitic, or predatory lifestyles.^[2] Traditionally classified into two main superorders—Acariformes (including groups like oribatid mites and astigmatans) and Parasitiformes (including mesostigmatans and ticks)—mites play crucial ecological roles as decomposers, predators of insects and nematodes, and indicators of soil health and biodiversity.^[3]^[2] In agriculture, species such as spider mites (Tetranychidae) act as pests damaging crops, while others, like predatory Phytoseiidae, serve as biological control agents.^[3] Medically and veterinarily, many mites and ticks transmit pathogens causing diseases like Lyme disease and scabies, underscoring their significance in public health.^[3] Recent phylogenetic studies have challenged the monophyly of Acari, suggesting that "mites" form an artificial rather than natural taxonomic group, with Parasitiformes more closely related to other chelicerates (such as horseshoe crabs) than to Acariformes.^[4] This ongoing debate highlights the evolutionary complexity of these organisms, estimated to include 1 million or more undescribed species, representing a substantial portion of arachnid diversity.^[3]^[5]

Classification and Evolution

Taxonomy

Mites belong to the subclass Acari within the class Arachnida, phylum Arthropoda, kingdom Animalia.^[3] The Acari encompass a highly diverse group of arachnids, distinguished from other arachnids by the fusion of their abdominal segments and the incorporation of mouthparts into a forward-projecting gnathosoma.^[3] Traditionally, the subclass Acari is divided into two superorders: Acariformes and Parasitiformes.^[3] The Acariformes, also known as Actinotrichida, represent the more speciose superorder and include three main orders: Trombidiformes (encompassing subgroups like Prostigmata, which includes plant-feeding spider mites), Sarcoptiformes (including Oribatida, or oribatid mites, and Astigmatina, such as house dust mites), and Endeostigmata (primitive, soil-dwelling forms).^[6] The Parasitiformes, or Anactinotrichida, comprise four orders: Mesostigmata (predatory and parasitic mites), Ixodida (ticks), Opilioacarida (primitive, tropical forms), and Holothyrida (rare, glandular mites).^[3] These superorders account for over 55,000 described species worldwide, with estimates suggesting up to one million species in total, reflecting their extraordinary diversity across terrestrial, freshwater, and marine habitats.^[7] Taxonomic revisions in the 2010s, driven by molecular phylogenetic analyses, have refined the structure within Acariformes by confirming its monophyly and establishing Endeostigmata as a distinct basal lineage within the order Sarcoptiformes, separate from the derived Oribatida and Astigmatina clades.^[6] This reclassification resolved long-standing debates on the position of Endeostigmata, previously considered potentially paraphyletic, based on 18S rDNA sequence data that highlighted conflicts with morphological long-branch attraction artifacts.^[6] Diagnostic traits for major taxa often center on the gnathosoma, the capitulum bearing the chelicerae and palps. In Parasitiformes, the gnathosoma is typically more robust and distinctly articulated to the idiosoma, with chelicerae often adapted for piercing and sucking in parasitic forms like ticks.^[8] In contrast, Acariformes exhibit a more integrated or variably fused gnathosoma, with chelicerae frequently stylet-like for scraping or fluid-feeding, as seen in prostigmatans and oribatids.^[8] These structural differences, while not supporting overall Acari monophyly in recent studies, remain key for distinguishing the superorders.^[9]

Phylogenetic Relationships

Traditionally, the Acari are considered to occupy a monophyletic position within the class Arachnida, forming a major clade alongside other orders such as Araneae (spiders) and Scorpiones (scorpions), with earlier phylogenetic analyses based on 18S rRNA gene sequences and mitochondrial genomes supporting this placement and the overall unity of Arachnida.^[10]^[11] These molecular datasets indicated that Acari diverged early within the arachnid lineage, sharing derived traits like the absence of a flagellum on the pedipalps with other arachnids, while exhibiting unique adaptations in cheliceral morphology.^[12] However, recent phylogenomic studies as of 2025 have challenged the monophyly of Acari, suggesting that Parasitiformes may be more closely related to Xiphosura (horseshoe crabs) than to Acariformes, rendering Acari an artificial rather than natural group.^[9]^[4] Internally, the traditional phylogeny of Acari is characterized by a deep bifurcation between the superorders Acariformes (encompassing diverse groups like sarcoptiform mites) and Parasitiformes (including ticks and mesostigmatid mites), a division corroborated by older ribosomal RNA and mitochondrial protein-coding gene analyses.^[13]^[12] Within Parasitiformes, Opilioacariformes emerges as the basal clade, serving as a critical outgroup to other parasitiform lineages and highlighting the group's evolutionary progression from primitive, soil-dwelling forms to more specialized parasitic taxa.^[14]^[15] Molecular clock analyses, calibrated using fossil constraints and relaxed clock models on multigene datasets, estimate the origin of Acari around 410–435 million years ago in the early Devonian, aligning with the colonization of terrestrial environments by early arthropods.^[12]^[11] This timeline positions Acari as one of the oldest radiating arachnid lineages, with the Acariformes-Parasitiformes split occurring shortly thereafter, potentially in the late Silurian to early Devonian.^[16] The monophyly of Acari has faced increasing challenges from molecular phylogenies, with recent 2025 studies using phylogenomic data and re-evaluating morphological traits like the gnathosoma and tritonymph stage as likely convergent rather than synapomorphic.^[17]^[18]^[9] These findings highlight an ongoing debate about the evolutionary unity of mites and ticks, with genomic-scale studies suggesting Acari may not form a natural clade distinct from other chelicerates.^[19]

Fossil Record

The fossil record of mites (Acari) is sparse compared to their extraordinary modern diversity, exceeding 60,000 described species, primarily due to their minute size, which hinders preservation and discovery. The oldest putative evidence of mite-like arthropods dates to the Early Devonian Rhynie Chert in Scotland, approximately 410 million years ago, where five specimens of acariform mites have been identified among early terrestrial ecosystems.^[20] These fossils, preserved in silicified plant material, represent early soil-dwelling forms but lack sufficient detail for precise taxonomic placement, suggesting they are stem-group acarines rather than crown-group mites.^[21] The earliest unequivocal mite fossils appear in the Late Triassic amber from the Dolomite Alps of northeastern Italy, dated to about 230 million years ago. These include two species of eriophyoid mites, Triasacarus fedelei and Ampezzoa triassica, preserved in resin droplets likely produced by extinct conifers, indicating that gall-forming and sap-sucking behaviors were already established in early mite lineages.^[22] This discovery extends the confirmed record of Acari by over 100 million years beyond previous amber finds and highlights the role of resin in capturing small arthropods during the Mesozoic.^[23] Major fossil deposits of mites are predominantly from amber inclusions, providing exceptional preservation of soft-bodied features. In the mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber from Myanmar (approximately 99 million years old), diverse Parasitiformes are documented, including opilioacarids, mesostigmatids, and the oldest known ticks, such as Cornupalpiger baculatus, often found in association with feathered dinosaurs and early birds, revealing ancient host-parasite dynamics.^[24] Eocene Baltic amber (about 44 million years old) yields abundant Astigmata, including transitional forms like Levantoglyphus sidorchukae in the family Levantoglyphidae, which bridge free-living and parasitic lifestyles, alongside numerous phoretic specimens attached to insects.^[25] These deposits, spanning the Mesozoic to Cenozoic, document a radiation of mite subgroups but remain geographically biased toward amber-producing forests in Eurasia and Southeast Asia. Fossils provide key insights into early mite adaptations, particularly parasitism and phoresy. Ectoparasitic associations are evident in Cretaceous and Eocene ambers, where mites such as mesostigmatids are preserved attached to insect hosts like ants (Myrmozercon nataliae on a formicine ant) and flies, suggesting blood-feeding or tissue-damaging behaviors similar to modern ectoparasites. Phoretic associations, in which mites hitchhike on larger arthropods for dispersal, are frequently captured, as seen in Baltic amber with mites on dolichopodid flies and springtails on ants, indicating that this dispersal strategy predates the diversification of modern ecosystems and facilitated mite colonization of new habitats.^[26] Despite these glimpses, significant gaps persist in the mite fossil record, largely attributable to their small size—most under 1 mm—which reduces the likelihood of preservation in sedimentary rocks outside of amber. Paleozoic and early Mesozoic deposits are particularly underrepresented, with estimates suggesting that fewer than 1% of mite lineages are captured as fossils, compared to their dominance in contemporary soils and litter.^[27] This bias implies that the true evolutionary history of mites, including transitions to parasitism, is likely far more ancient and complex than currently evidenced.

Morphology and Anatomy

External Features

Mites exhibit a characteristic body structure divided into two primary tagmata: the gnathosoma and the idiosoma. The gnathosoma, often referred to as the capitulum, is the anterior, head-like region housing the mouthparts, including the paired chelicerae for feeding and manipulation, and the pedipalps for sensory functions and grasping. The idiosoma forms the larger, oval to elongate posterior body, bearing the legs and dorsal and ventral shields, with the original segmentation obscured by fusion, resulting in an apparently unsegmented appearance. This division reflects the evolutionary reduction from more segmented arachnids, emphasizing compactness for diverse microhabitats.^[28]^[29] The appendages of mites are adapted for locomotion, attachment, and sensory perception, with adults typically possessing four pairs of legs attached to the idiosoma, while larvae bear only three pairs. Each leg consists of several segments—coxa, trochanter, femur, genu, tibia, and tarsus—with setation patterns (arrangement and number of setae) serving as key diagnostic traits for species identification across mite groups. The pretarsal structures at the leg tips vary, including empodia (fleshy, pad-like extensions for adhesion) and ambulacra (paired claws or suckers for gripping surfaces), which enable mites to navigate smooth plant tissues or host skins effectively.^[30]^[31]^[32] The external integument of mites is a thin, flexible cuticle composed of epicuticle and procuticle layers, often marked by fine striations that provide extensibility and prevent cracking during movement or molting. In certain taxa, such as oribatid mites, the cuticle features hardened sclerites, including the prodorsal shield covering the anterior dorsum and the propodosomal shield over the leg-bearing region, which offer protection and structural support. These sclerotized elements contrast with the softer, striated cuticle in more agile groups like prostigmatids.^[30]^[33] Mite sizes vary dramatically, from as small as 0.1 mm in eriophyid mites, which are worm-like and adapted for concealed plant feeding, to over 30 mm in fully engorged ticks, the largest acarine representatives. Sexual dimorphism in external features is common, particularly in parasitic groups like ticks, where females often exhibit longer legs or expanded scuta for blood meal accommodation, while males display ornate patterns or shorter appendages for mate location.^[34]^[35]^[36]

Internal Anatomy

The digestive system of mites is divided into foregut, midgut, and hindgut regions, with the foregut including a muscular pharynx that facilitates ingestion through a pumping action driven by its thick-walled structure.^[37] The pharynx connects to the esophagus and opens into the midgut via an esophageal valve, allowing liquefied food to pass for further processing.^[37] The midgut, the primary site of extracellular and intracellular digestion, features epithelial cells that secrete enzymes and absorb nutrients, often organized into a ventriculus and caeca for efficient breakdown of ingested materials such as plant sap or host tissues.^[38] Excretion in mites is mainly accomplished by paired coxal glands located near the bases of the first and third pairs of legs, which function as osmoregulatory organs by filtering hemolymph through a thin-walled sacculus to produce urine-like waste.^[39] Mites exhibit an open circulatory system comprising a spacious hemocoel cavity that bathes internal organs in hemolymph, with most species lacking a dedicated heart and relying on body muscle contractions to circulate the fluid. Respiratory gas exchange occurs primarily through paired stigmata that lead to a system of tracheae and tracheoles in many taxa, delivering oxygen directly to tissues, while smaller or aquatic mites often supplement this with diffusion across the thin cuticle.^[40] The reproductive system in mites is typically dioecious, with females possessing paired ovaries that produce ova within a tubular oviduct leading to a uterus and vagina, often including spermathecae for sperm storage near the genital opening.^[41] Males have paired testes connected by vasa deferentia to ejaculatory ducts, with insemination varying by group; for instance, in gamasid mites, males use modified chelicerae to transfer spermatophores externally before they are taken up by the female.^[42] The nervous system of mites forms a synganglion, a fused mass divided into supraesophageal and subesophageal regions encircling the esophagus, with the subesophageal portion including pedal ganglia that innervate the legs.^[43] Sensory input is processed through these ganglia, including connections to trichobothria—specialized setae that detect substrate vibrations and air movements, linking external sensory organs to the central nervous mass. In some species like those in Acaridae, the ventral nerve chain retains distinct ganglionic aggregations for coordinated motor control.^[44]

Life History

Reproduction

Mites in the subclass Acari are predominantly dioecious, with separate male and female sexes, though asexual reproduction via parthenogenesis occurs in several lineages.^[45] In sexual species, mating typically involves indirect sperm transfer, where males deposit stalked spermatophores on the substrate, which females actively retrieve using their genital structures.^[46] This behavior is widespread across groups such as oribatids, water mites (Parasitengona), and gamasids, with males often using specialized cheliceral structures like the spermatodactyl to shape and position the spermatophore precisely.^[42] In prostigmatid mites, including eriophyoids, spermatophore deposition occurs without direct physical contact between sexes, reducing male-female interactions.^[47] Parthenogenesis is common in oribatid mites (Oribatida), where thelytokous reproduction produces all-female offspring, enabling rapid population growth in stable soil environments and comprising up to 90% of individuals in some communities.^[45] In contrast, pest species like spider mites (Tetranychidae) exhibit arrhenotokous parthenogenesis, a form of haplodiploidy where unfertilized eggs develop into haploid males and fertilized eggs into diploid females, allowing virgin females to initiate populations with male progeny.^[48] This reproductive mode is also present in some dermanyssine mites, facilitating colonization of new hosts.^[49] Female fertility in mites varies by taxon and environmental conditions, with clutch sizes typically ranging from 1 to 100 eggs per female over their lifetime.^[50] Oviposition sites are often selected for protection; for example, tetranychid spider mites deposit eggs on leaf undersides within silk webs produced by the females, which shield eggs from desiccation and predators.^[51] Factors such as host plant quality and population density influence egg production, with females reducing clutch sizes under high density to adjust offspring sex ratios.^[52] Sex determination in mites frequently follows haplodiploid arrhenotoky, particularly in Tetranychidae and some Parasitiformes, where ploidy dictates sex and unfertilized eggs yield males.^[48] Environmental cues, including population density and resource availability, can bias sex ratios, with females producing more daughters in low-density conditions to enhance mating opportunities.^[53] In oribatids, sex determination mechanisms remain less understood but may involve genetic factors independent of haplodiploidy in parthenogenetic lineages.^[54]

Development and Life Cycle

The development of mites (subclass Acari) typically follows an anamorphic pattern, involving a sequence of postembryonic stages that include an egg, followed by a hexapod larva, and then up to three nymphal instars (protonymph, deutonymph, and tritonymph) before reaching the adult form.^[55] Some species exhibit a non-feeding prelarval stage immediately after hatching, which is inactive and lacks functional mouthparts or legs.^[56] The larval stage is characterized by three pairs of legs and basic body segmentation, while nymphal stages acquire the fourth pair of legs and undergo progressive morphological refinements, such as the development of genital structures in the tritonymph.^[57] In certain astigmatid mites, the deutonymph may be heteromorphic, forming a specialized, dispersal-oriented hypopal stage adapted for phoresy on insects.^[58] The duration of the mite life cycle varies widely depending on species, habitat, and environmental conditions, ranging from as short as 5–12 days in rapidly developing groups like spider mites (Tetranychidae) under optimal warm temperatures to 1–3 years or more in soil-dwelling oribatid mites.^[59]^[60] For instance, in the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae), the larval and nymphal stages together last 4–9 days at 25–30°C, enabling multiple generations per season in agricultural settings.^[59] In contrast, oribatid species in temperate forest soils often require 12–24 months to complete development due to slower metabolic rates and extended immature periods.^[60] Metamorphosis in mites is gradual rather than abrupt, with key transformations occurring during ecdysis between instars, including the addition of legs in the first nymphal molt and maturation of sensory and reproductive organs in later stages.^[55] Environmental factors strongly influence these processes; development rates are highly temperature-dependent, accelerating with warmth (e.g., optimal at 25–30°C for many phytophagous species) and slowing or halting below 10–15°C.^[59] Quiescent or diapausing stages, often in eggs or deutonymphs, can be induced by adverse conditions like cold, drought, or short photoperiods, allowing survival until favorable cues trigger resumption; for example, overwintering diapause in spider mites involves arrested embryonic development responsive to chilling.^[61]

Ecological Roles

Habitats and Niches

Mites occupy a wide array of environmental habitats, demonstrating remarkable adaptability across terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. In terrestrial environments, soil serves as a primary niche, where oribatid mites (Oribatida) predominate as key decomposers, facilitating nutrient cycling by breaking down organic matter in forest floors and grasslands.^[62] These mites thrive in the upper soil layers, contributing to soil structure and fertility through their feeding on detritus and fungi. In freshwater systems, hydrachnidian mites (Hydrachnidia) are ubiquitous, inhabiting lotic (running water) and lentic (standing water) habitats such as streams, ponds, and wetlands, where they often associate with aquatic vegetation and substrates.^[63] Marine interstitial spaces, particularly sandy sediments and algal mats, host halacarid mites (Halacaridae), which exploit the pore waters of intertidal and subtidal zones for feeding on microalgae and detritus.^[64] Beyond broad habitats, mites exploit diverse microhabitats that reflect their varied ecological roles. Phytophagous mites, such as spider mites (Tetranychidae), colonize plant surfaces like leaf undersides and stems, where they pierce cells to extract sap, often forming dense colonies on crops and ornamentals.^[65] Commensal mites inhabit the external or internal surfaces of animal hosts, including feather mites on birds that feed on uropygial gland secretions without harming the host.^[66] Certain mites also endure extreme conditions; for instance, thermacarid water mites (Thermacaridae) occupy hot springs with temperatures exceeding 40°C, while oribatid species persist in polar regions like Antarctica, enduring freezing temperatures and desiccation in moss and soil.^[67]^[68] Mites are numerically dominant in many soil ecosystems, often comprising a significant portion of arthropod abundance; for example, in poplar plantation soils, Prostigmata can account for up to 40% of total soil arthropod abundance, with Oribatida contributing substantially.^[69] Their distribution exhibits vertical stratification within litter layers, with higher densities and diversity in the surface litter and fermentation layers compared to deeper humus and mineral soil, influenced by moisture, oxygen, and food availability.^[70] Specialized adaptations enable mites to persist in these niches. In arid terrestrial environments, many species possess waterproofing cuticles with thickened layers and hydrocarbons that minimize transcuticular water loss, allowing survival in dry soils and deserts.^[71] Aquatic mites, conversely, employ osmoregulatory mechanisms, such as genital acetabula that facilitate ion and water balance, preventing osmotic stress in fluctuating salinities of freshwater and interstitial marine habitats.^[72]

Interactions and Symbioses

Mites exhibit a diverse array of interactions with other organisms, ranging from predation and parasitism to symbiotic associations that influence ecological dynamics. Predatory mites, particularly those in the order Mesostigmata, play a key role in controlling populations of smaller invertebrates. These mites actively hunt nematodes and insects using chemosensory systems that detect chemical cues from prey, enabling efficient foraging in soil and litter environments.^[73] For instance, mesostigmatid mites associated with bark beetles predominantly feed on arthropods or nematodes, with over half of studied species classified as predators.^[74] Such predation helps regulate pest populations, as soil predatory mites target plant-parasitic nematodes and other arthropods, contributing to biological control in agricultural and natural systems.^[75] Parasitic interactions further highlight mites' impact on host organisms. Many mites function as ectoparasites, attaching to the external surfaces of vertebrates and invertebrates to feed on skin fluids or tissues. Chiggers, larval mites in the family Trombiculidae, exemplify this mode by infesting vertebrates and occasionally transmitting bacterial diseases like scrub typhus during feeding.^[76] In insects, some mites adopt endoparasitic strategies, invading the hemocoel to feed on internal fluids; for example, Varroa destructor pierces the host's exoskeleton to access hemolymph and fat body tissue, weakening the host while potentially vectoring pathogens.^[77] These mites often serve as vectors in disease transmission, facilitating the spread of bacteria, viruses, and other microbes between hosts through their feeding activities.^[78] Symbiotic associations among mites include phoresy and more complex mutualisms that aid dispersal and pathogen enhancement. Phoresy involves mites hitchhiking on larger insects, such as beetles or bees, to reach new habitats without direct harm to the carrier, a strategy common in patchy environments.^[79] In detrimental symbioses, Varroa mites form a mutualistic relationship with viruses like deformed wing virus (DWV) in honey bees, where the mite vectors the virus, and viral replication within the mite boosts its reproductive success, creating a feedback loop that amplifies harm to bee colonies.^[80] This interaction underscores how mite symbioses can evolve from neutral transport to pathogenic alliances. Within trophic levels, mites occupy multiple positions in food webs, particularly as detritivores facilitating decomposition. Oribatid mites, abundant in soil, consume organic detritus and fungal hyphae, accelerating the breakdown of plant litter and nutrient cycling in ecosystems.^[62] As primary consumers, these detritivores integrate into decomposition chains, enhancing soil fertility by processing dead matter.^[81] Mites also serve as prey for larger arthropods, such as predatory beetles and spiders, linking lower trophic levels to higher predators and maintaining balance in soil and litter food webs.^[82]

Dispersal Mechanisms

Mites employ a variety of active and passive strategies to disperse, constrained primarily by their small size, which limits unaided locomotion over long distances. Active dispersal typically involves walking or limited jumping, but these methods are inefficient for most species due to their diminutive bodies, often measuring less than 1 mm in length. For instance, oribatid mites can walk short distances across soil or leaf surfaces, but such movement rarely exceeds a few centimeters without external aid. In contrast, certain eriophyid mites, such as Aceria tosichella and Abacarus hystrix, exhibit specialized wind-blown dispersal, where active stages position themselves perpendicular to air currents to be carried aloft, achieving higher success rates in windy conditions compared to phoresy.^[83] Passive dispersal dominates mite movement, with phoresy being the most prevalent mechanism, wherein mites temporarily attach to larger hosts for transport to new habitats. Uropodine mites (Mesostigmata: Uropodina), for example, use modified deutonymph stages equipped with anal pedicels to hitch rides on wood-inhabiting beetles, facilitating colonization of ephemeral resources like decaying logs. Similarly, astigmatid mites such as those in Glycyphagoidea attach to birds or mammals via ventral suckers or clasping structures, often dispersing through nests or fur during host migration. These associations enable mites to overcome habitat fragmentation, though attachment success varies with host availability and mite morphology.^[79] Long-distance dispersal often integrates active and passive elements, particularly in specialized taxa. Tetranychid spider mites, including Tetranychus urticae, engage in ballooning by producing silk threads from their spinnerets, aggregating at plant apices to form wind-borne silk balls that can transport groups of adults and immatures over kilometers. This collective behavior enhances escape from crowded or depleted patches, with survival depending on prompt takeoff to avoid desiccation. Some soil mites, such as oribatids, utilize rafting on floating debris, where individuals survive submersion for up to 365 days and disperse downstream at rates potentially reaching thousands of kilometers in river systems, aided by anti-wetting secretions.^[84]^[85] Dispersal barriers, including oceanic distances and habitat discontinuities, lead to genetic isolation in island populations, as evidenced by phylogenetic analyses of ameronothroid mites across the Southern Ocean. These studies reveal pre-Pleistocene divergences among genera like Podacarus and Halozetes, indicating limited gene flow across the Antarctic Polar Front and survival in refugia during glaciation. Human-mediated spread via international trade exacerbates connectivity, introducing invasive mites such as eriophyids and tetranychids through infested plant material or commodities, often bypassing natural barriers and accelerating range expansions.^[86]^[87]

Interactions with Humans

Health and Medical Impacts

Mites play a significant role in various parasitic diseases affecting humans and animals. Scabies, a highly contagious skin infestation, is caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis, which burrows into the upper layer of the human skin to lay eggs, leading to intense itching, rashes, and secondary infections.^[88] Demodicosis, another parasitic condition, occurs in mammals including dogs, cats, and humans due to overproliferation of Demodex mites residing in hair follicles and sebaceous glands, resulting in symptoms like hair loss, inflammation, and skin lesions, particularly in immunocompromised individuals.^[89] In veterinary medicine, demodicosis is a notable issue in dogs, where it manifests as generalized or localized mange-like dermatitis.^[90] Certain mites act as vectors for bacterial diseases, exacerbating public health concerns. Lyme disease, the most common tick-borne illness in the Northern Hemisphere, is transmitted by Ixodes ticks infected with the spirochete bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which the mites acquire from feeding on infected wildlife hosts before biting humans or animals, causing symptoms ranging from fever and rash to severe joint and neurological issues if untreated.^[91] Beyond direct parasitism, mites contribute to allergic disorders; house dust mites of the genus Dermatophagoides, such as D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae, produce allergens in their fecal pellets that trigger immunoglobulin E-mediated responses, leading to asthma exacerbations, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis in sensitized individuals worldwide.^[92] In occupational and veterinary contexts, mite-induced allergies and infestations pose additional challenges. Storage mites, including species like Tyrophagus putrescentiae and Acarus siro, cause "baker's itch" or allergic contact dermatitis among bakers and grain handlers through exposure to contaminated flour and stored products, manifesting as pruritic rashes and respiratory symptoms.^[93] Among pets, ear mites (Otodectes cynotis) infest the external ear canals of cats and dogs, leading to severe irritation, dark waxy discharge, head shaking, and potential secondary bacterial infections if untreated.^[94] In livestock, sarcoptic mange caused by Sarcoptes scabiei varieties results in intense pruritus, alopecia, and thickened skin, impacting animal welfare and productivity in species like cattle, sheep, and pigs.^[95] Recent environmental changes have amplified mite-related health risks. In the 2020s, warming climates have driven increases in tick populations, particularly Ixodes species, by extending active seasons and expanding geographic ranges, thereby heightening the transmission potential of vector-borne diseases like Lyme disease in regions such as North America and Europe.^[96]

Economic and Agricultural Significance

Mites represent significant economic challenges in agriculture, particularly as pests affecting crop yields and quality. Spider mites of the genus Tetranychus, such as the two-spotted spider mite (T. urticae), are notorious for infesting a wide range of crops including strawberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, and apples, where their feeding punctures leaf cells, causing characteristic stippling, bronzing, and reduced photosynthesis.^[97]^[98] This damage can lead to substantial yield losses; for instance, infestations on strawberries have been shown to reduce marketable yields by up to 30% in field-grown plants, with early-season attacks exacerbating the impact on perennial crops.^[99] Similarly, gall mites from the family Eriophyidae induce plant deformities by injecting growth-regulating saliva during feeding, resulting in galls, leaf curling, russeting, and blistering on hosts like ornamentals, fruits, and vegetables, which diminish aesthetic and commercial value.^[100]^[101] These effects collectively contribute to significant annual global agricultural losses from mite pests, underscoring their role in reducing productivity across diverse farming systems. In stored product systems, mites like Acarus siro (the flour or grain mite) infest commodities such as grains, flour, dried fruits, and animal feeds, accelerating spoilage through feeding, fecal contamination, and promotion of fungal growth, which degrades nutritional quality and leads to product rejection.^[102]^[103] Infestations by A. siro and related species cause weight loss, accumulation of mite residues, and health hazards in processed foods, resulting in substantial economic damages when considering broader stored-product pest impacts that include mites.^[104] These losses extend to the food processing industry, where even low-level infestations can trigger recalls or market devaluation, amplifying costs for storage and quality control.^[105] Forestry operations face threats from conifer-infesting mites, such as the spruce spider mite (Oligonychus ununguis), which targets pines and other evergreens by rasping needle surfaces, leading to defoliation, needle drop, and tree decline that reduces timber volume and aesthetic value in plantations.^[106] Climate change exacerbates these impacts, with warmer winters and altered precipitation patterns enabling larger mite populations and more frequent outbreaks in coniferous forests, as milder conditions enhance overwintering survival and extend active feeding periods.^[107]^[108] In regions like North America, such dynamics have contributed to heightened vulnerability of pine stands, with infestations causing significant economic setbacks in timber production.^[109] Effective management relies on monitoring pest densities against established action thresholds to guide interventions and minimize unnecessary treatments. For spider mites, thresholds often range from 5-10 mites per leaf in crops like tomatoes and strawberries, beyond which yield impacts become economically significant, prompting acaricide application or other controls.^[110]^[111] However, widespread resistance to acaricides complicates control; T. urticae has developed tolerance to multiple chemical classes, including pyrethroids and organophosphates, often within 1-4 years of repeated exposure, necessitating rotation of modes of action to sustain efficacy.^[112]^[113] This resistance pattern, driven by enhanced detoxification enzymes and reduced penetration, has led to increased management costs and persistent outbreaks in agricultural and forestry settings.^[114]

Beneficial Applications

Mites play a significant role in biological control programs, particularly through the use of predatory species to manage pest populations in agricultural settings. The predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis is widely employed against the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) in greenhouse crops such as strawberries and ornamentals. This species targets all life stages of the pest, with adults exhibiting the highest consumption rates among available biocontrol predatory mites. Releases are recommended at rates of 1-3 mites per square foot for preventative control, 5 per square foot for low to moderate infestations, and 10 or more per square foot for high infestations, often requiring multiple applications in outdoor environments due to dispersal. Efficacy studies show that maintaining a pest-to-predator ratio of 5-10:1 can significantly reduce spider mite populations within 2-3 weeks, with evaluation based on observing shriveled, dead prey mites on foliage.^[115]^[116] In beekeeping, the parasitic mite Varroa destructor serves as a key indicator for hive health assessment through non-chemical monitoring techniques. Mite drop counts, often using sticky boards placed beneath brood frames or wash methods like powdered sugar shakes or alcohol washes on samples of 300 bees, allow beekeepers to estimate infestation levels by calculating the percentage of mites per 100 bees. This method exploits natural mite fall from grooming or brood emergence, enabling early detection to prevent colony decline. Guidelines from the Honey Bee Health Coalition recommend thresholds of less than 1% during dormancy (acceptable), 1-2% (caution), and over 2% (treatment needed), with sampling advised four times annually, post-treatment, and during peak brood periods to inform integrated pest management.^[117] As of 2025, V. destructor has caused catastrophic losses in U.S. honey bee colonies, with commercial beekeepers reporting an average of 62% colony mortality from June 2024 to March 2025, linked to miticide resistance and associated viruses like deformed wing virus, highlighting the urgent need for improved monitoring and control strategies.^[118] Beyond agriculture, mites contribute to forensic entomology by participating in succession patterns on decomposing remains, aiding in postmortem interval estimation. Various acarid species arrive on cadavers via phoresy on insects or direct dispersal, with community composition shifting across decomposition stages—early colonizers like gamasid mites feeding on fluids, followed by oribatids during dry phases. Studies highlight their potential as trace evidence markers, as specific mite assemblages can indicate burial conditions or time since death, with species like Macrocheles common in initial stages. Forensic acarology emphasizes mites' microhabitat specificity, allowing reconstruction of events even without the carrier arthropod present.^[119]^[120] Oribatid mites also function as bioindicators of soil health in agricultural systems, where their diversity and abundance reflect ecosystem quality and management practices. These mites, comprising a dominant group in soil microarthropod communities, drive decomposition and nutrient cycling, with higher species richness correlating to sustainable practices like organic fertilization in crop rotations. In Mediterranean vineyards transitioning to agroecology, oribatid biodiversity increases under reduced tillage and cover crops, signaling improved soil structure and fertility. Monitoring their communities helps assess impacts from disturbances, as low diversity often indicates degradation, while resilient assemblages support long-term agricultural productivity.^[121]^[122] Emerging research explores mites' indirect contributions to bioremediation through their facilitation of organic matter decomposition in contaminated soils. Oribatid mites enhance litter breakdown by feeding on fungi, bacteria, and detritus, promoting microbial activity that aids in the natural attenuation of pollutants like hydrocarbons. In polluted sites, their presence influences soil processes, though high contaminant levels can suppress populations, underscoring their sensitivity as indicators during remediation efforts.^[123]^[124]

Cultural Representations

Mites have appeared in philosophical and literary works as symbols of the infinitesimal and human insignificance. In Blaise Pascal's Pensées (1670), he describes a mite's minute body and intricate parts—limbs, veins, and humors—to illustrate the vast scale between the infinitely small and large, emphasizing humanity's precarious position in the universe.^[125] This depiction underscores mites as metaphors for the overlooked details of creation, influencing later reflections on scale in natural philosophy.^[126] In visual art, mites gained prominence through early microscopy. Robert Hooke's Micrographia (1665) featured detailed engravings of mites, including a "wandering mite" and crab-like forms observed under compound microscopes, revealing their complex anatomy and sparking wonder at the microscopic world.^[127] These illustrations, among the first public depictions of mites, portrayed them not as pests but as marvels of design, bridging art and science in the 17th century.^[128] In modern literature, particularly science fiction, mites often symbolize invasive threats or existential perils. Charles Pellegrino's novel Dust (1998) depicts swarms of genetically engineered mites devastating ecosystems, representing uncontrolled biological catastrophe. Similarly, in Mircea Cărtărescu's Solenoid (2015), a protagonist enters a parallel mite world, exploring themes of alienation and microscopic societies.^[129] Folklore traditions occasionally associate mites with omens or natural cycles. In Mexican oral culture, proverbs like "más viejo que la sarna" (older than mange, referring to scabies mites) evoke enduring afflictions as symbols of antiquity and persistence.^[130] Some Indigenous Mayan practices in Yucatán link ticks (a type of mite) to seasonal rituals on St. Francis of Assisi's day, viewing them as harbingers of environmental balance or imbalance.^[131] Contemporary media highlights mites' ubiquity through educational documentaries and viral content. The PBS series Deep Look (2016) episode on dust mites examines their role in household ecosystems, blending microscopy with narrative to demystify these invisible companions.^[132] Online memes and social media exhibits, such as artistic renderings of Demodex eyelash mites, have popularized their presence on human faces, often evoking humorous horror at their pervasiveness—nearly all adults host them without harm.^[133] These representations foster public fascination with mite diversity, estimated at over 1 million species.^[130]

References

[1]
Mites & Ticks (Arachnida: Acari) - American Arachnological Society
Mites, including ticks, are in the Acari group, with over 54,000 species. They are diverse, small, and have medical and veterinary importance.
[2]
Mites - Soil Ecology Wiki
May 1, 2025 · The three major lineages of mites are recognized as Opilioacariformes, Acariformes and Parasitiformes [1]. 45,000 species of mites have been ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[3]
Mites Are a Made-Up Taxon: New Analysis Further Debunks Long ...
May 7, 2025 · What scientists know as "mites" is almost certainly an artificial taxonomic group, according to recent phylogenetic analyses and studies ...Missing: biology | Show results with:biology
[4]
https://entomologytoday.org/2025/05/07/mites-made-up-taxon-analysis-debunks-classification-acari/
[5]
Molecular phylogeny of acariform mites (Acari, Arachnida) - PubMed
Our analyses confirm the monophyly of Acariformes and recognize two orders within Acariformes: Sarcoptiformes, consisting of Endeostigmata and Oribatida+ ...Missing: distinct | Show results with:distinct
[6]
Diversity and Distribution of Mites (ACARI) Revealed by ... - NIH
Oct 11, 2023 · Acari (mites and ticks) are a highly speciose group of animals within the Arthropoda [1]. With nearly 55,000 described species and up to one ...
[7]
(PDF) The gnathosoma is a bad character rather than evidence for ...
Aug 6, 2025 · PDF | In recent years, the case for the monophyly of mites or Acari (Parasitiformes + Acariformes) has looked increasingly weak.Missing: traits | Show results with:traits
[8]
The gnathosoma is a bad character rather than evidence for mite ...
Apr 30, 2025 · In recent years, the case for the monophyly of mites or Acari (Parasitiformes + Acariformes) has looked increasingly weak.Missing: diagnostic traits
[9]
Phylogenomic Interrogation of Arachnida Reveals Systemic ...
Aug 8, 2014 · Here, we show that phylogenetic signal for the monophyly of Arachnida is restricted to the 500 slowest-evolving genes in the data set.
[10]
Molecular phylogeny of acariform mites (Acari, Arachnida)
We performed first comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of Acariformes using sequence data from the nuclear small subunit rRNA gene (18S rDNA) and the ...
[11]
Mitochondrial Metagenomics Reveals the Ancient Origin and ...
Oct 31, 2019 · The mitogenomes also produce strong evidence for the monophyly of the two superorders Acariformes and Parasitiformes and support the findings of ...Results · Discussion · Materials And Methods
[12]
Phylogeny of parasitiform mites (Acari) based on rRNA - ScienceDirect
Acari (mites and ticks) form one the most diverse lineages of arthropods, but basal relationships in the group are still poorly understood.
[13]
Relationships among the three major lineages of the Acari ...
Dec 12, 2005 · Our phylogeny indicates that the Opilioacariformes ... Parasitiformes is paraphyletic unless the Opilioacariformes is added to the Parasitiformes.
[14]
Phylogeny of Parasitiform mites (Acari) based on rDNA. Mol ...
Aug 7, 2025 · Acari (mites and ticks) form one the most diverse lineages of arthropods, but basal relationships in the group are still poorly understood.Missing: Opiliocariformes | Show results with:Opiliocariformes
[15]
Origin and higher-level diversification of acariform mites – evidence ...
Sep 2, 2015 · Results. Our molecular data strongly support a diphyletic Acari, with Acariformes as the sister group to Solifugae (PP =1.0; BP = 100), the ...
[16]
(PDF) Molecular phylogeny of acariform mites (Acari, Arachnida)
Aug 5, 2025 · We performed first comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of Acariformes using sequence data from the nuclear small subunit rRNA gene (18S rDNA) ...
[17]
[PDF] Morphological support for a clade comprising two ... - Biotaxa
... tritonymph stage was coded for absence/ presence ... chelicerae ... (1996) A cladistic analysis of the Eriophyoidea (Acari: Prostigmata): tests of monophyly.
[18]
Comprehensive Species Sampling and Sophisticated Algorithmic ...
Feb 8, 2022 · The inclusion of Opilioacariformes, a slowly evolving group of Parasitiformes (Klompen et al. 2007; Pepato et al. 2010), was recently shown ...
[19]
Oribatid mites show that soil food web complexity and close ...
Oct 22, 2019 · ... fossil record. The Early Devonian Rhynie Chert record (~410–400 mya) contains one Collembola and five acariform mite specimens ...
[20]
History and contemporary significance of the Rhynie cherts—our ...
Dec 18, 2017 · The Rhynie cherts Unit is a 407 million-year old geological site in Scotland that preserves the most ancient known land plant ecosystem.
[21]
Arthropods in amber from the Triassic Period - PNAS
Aug 27, 2012 · Abundant 230 million-year-old amber from the Late Triassic (Carnian) of northeastern Italy has previously yielded myriad microorganisms, but we ...
[22]
Oldest mites in amber discovered - Science News
Aug 27, 2012 · At 230 million years old, the mite fossils are about 100 million years older than previous finds, and suggest that mites' basic body ...
[23]
A remarkable assemblage of ticks from mid-Cretaceous Burmese ...
Mar 4, 2022 · Burmese amber hosts the oldest known ticks, as well as the oldest records of two other members of the wider Parasitiformes clade to which the ...
[24]
A transitional fossil mite (Astigmata: Levantoglyphidae fam. n.) from ...
Jul 23, 2021 · The oldest known fossil records of non-phoretic stages of Astigmata are also from the Eocene Baltic amber. Levantoglyphus sidorchukae represents ...
[25]
Fossil amber reveals springtails' longstanding dispersal by social ...
Nov 21, 2019 · From both fossil and modern cases, soil-dwelling social insects show an obvious trend for biotic associations with smaller apterous arthropods.
[26]
AN ORIBATID MITE (ARACHNIDA: ACARI) FROM THE OXFORD ...
May 15, 2008 · Ubiquitous and abundant in nearly all terrestrial environments today, mites are, however, uncommon in the fossil record. Today's diversity of ...
[27]
[PDF] Chapter 24 - Integrated pest management of mites
A mite's body is divided into two main sections: the anterior part of the body called gnathosoma or capitulum, followed by a large portion known as the idiosoma ...
[28]
Scabies: Immunopathogenesis and pathological changes - PMC - NIH
Mar 4, 2024 · The gnathosoma is a head-like structure, including the chelicerae and the pedipalps, that surround the mouth opening. The idiosoma is oval, ...
[29]
(PDF) A review of mites of the Parvorder Eleutherengona (Acariformes
as a rule, four pairs of legs (Fig. 1). The idiosomal. segments are fused ... There are three pairs of legs, consist-. ing of ve articulated segments ...Missing: empodia | Show results with:empodia
[30]
Agistemus aimogastaensis sp. n. (Acari, Actinedida, Stigmaeidae), a ...
All legs with ambulacrum, composed of two claws with small tooth, and an empodium with three pairs of capitate fan-shaped raylets (resembling leaves of Ginkgo ...Missing: empodia | Show results with:empodia
[31]
[PDF] A review of Cunaxidae (Acariformes, Trombidiformes)
Jun 20, 2014 · Legs 6-segmented in larvae, 7-segmented in nymphs and adults. In adults these segments are coxa, trochanter, baifemur, telofemur, genu ...Missing: setation empodia
[32]
[PDF] Morphology, Evolution, and Host Associations of Bee-Associated ...
A detailed comparative analysis of the external morphological structures of feeding instars and heteromorphic deutonymphs of the mite family Chaetodactylidae ...
[33]
Landscape pests-Eriophyid mite
Pest description and damage The tiny (0.005 to 0.008 inch long) body of most eriophyid mite species is translucent and cigar-shaped tapering to the hind end, ...
[34]
Mites - www.bumblebee.org
... mite, Eriophyes ribis at 0.1 mm to the largest tick, Amblyomma clypeolatum at 30 mm after a full feed. There are over 48,000 species described, including ...
[35]
Dermacentor - Lander University
By far the larger tagma is the posterior idiosoma consisting of the old abdomen and most of the cephalothorax. The much smaller gnathosoma (= capitulum) is ...Missing: morphology | Show results with:morphology<|control11|><|separator|>
[36]
The Digestive System of the Two-Spotted Spider Mite, Tetranychus ...
Sep 10, 2018 · We describe the organization and properties of the TSSM alimentary system. We define the cellular nature of floating vesicles in the midgut lumen.Abstract · Materials and Methods · Results · Discussion
[37]
Ultrastructure of the digestive tract in Acarus siro (Acari: Acaridida)
Sep 21, 2007 · The gut of the mite Acarus siro is characterized on the ultrastructural level. It consists of the foregut (pharynx, esophagus), ...<|separator|>
[38]
Excretion in an oribatid mite Phthiracams sp. (Arachnida: Acari) - 1975
Phthiracams sp. has one pair of coxal glands. Each gland comprises a thin‐walled sacculus which is specialized for the ultrafiltration of the haemolymph and ...
[39]
Fine structure of the respiratory system in mites from the family ...
Dec 31, 1980 · The respiratory system of mites includes pairs of stigmata, wperitremes, atria, as well as arising from atria tracheae and tracheoles.
[40]
Anatomy and ultrastructure of the reproductive system of Acarus siro ...
Aug 6, 2025 · The male reproductive system contains paired testes, in which spermatogonia tightly surround the central cell. The proximal part of the paired ...
[41]
Reproductive systems of gamasid mites (Acari, Anactinotrichida ...
The males have chelicerae with a modified movable digit that hears a process termed spermatodactyl and is used to manipulate the spermatophore into the sperm ...
[42]
Gross morphology of the central nervous system of a phytoseiid mite
The general morphology of the central nervous system is analysed in intact females of the predatory mite, Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae)
[43]
Acaridae) 3. Nervous system | Vijayambika, V. | Acarologia - INRAE
Jul 31, 1975 · The nervous system consists of the supra and sub oesophageal ganglia, circum oesophageal connectives, the ventral ganglia, and a few nerves.
[44]
Parthenogenetic vs. sexual reproduction in oribatid mite communities
May 29, 2019 · The data showed that low density of oribatid mites due to harsh environmental conditions is associated with high frequency of parthenogenesis.Missing: spider | Show results with:spider
[45]
Fine structure of spermatophores of some Oribatid mites (Acari ...
The ultrastructure of spermatophores was studied in seven species of Oribatei. Each spermatophore is composed of a head and a stalk which is attached to the ...
[46]
Repeated visitations of spermatophores and polyandry in females of ...
Nov 15, 2013 · 1996). Eriophyoids transfer sperm indirectly, via spermatophores deposited on a substrate and without pair formations between males and females ...Missing: behaviors | Show results with:behaviors<|separator|>
[47]
Survival and Reproductive Strategies in Two-Spotted Spider Mites ...
When a solitary virgin female colonizes a new host plant, it is capable of producing male offspring through the arrhenotokous parthenogenesis; once her sons ...
[48]
EVOLUTION OF HAPLODIPLOIDY IN DERMANYSSINE MITES ...
In the most common of these, arrhenotoky, males arise from unfertilized eggs, whereas females arise from fertilized eggs.
[49]
Development and Reproductive Capacity of the Miyake Spider Mite ...
In this study, E. kankitus was used as a test organism to see how temperature affects development time, survival rate and fecundity.<|control11|><|separator|>
[50]
Should I lay or should I wait? Egg-laying in the two-spotted spider ...
The egg-laying behavior was mainly determined by the nature of the substrate with mites laying fewer eggs on a non-living substrate than on a living one. The ...Missing: clutch size
[51]
A haplodiploid mite adjusts fecundity and sex ratio in response to ...
Oct 15, 2022 · We demonstrate that females produced fewer eggs with a significantly higher female-biased sex ratio in dense populations.A Haplodiploid Mite Adjusts... · Introduction · Materials And Methods
[52]
Reproductive plasticity in response to the changing cluster size ...
Aug 31, 2023 · The current study provides evidence that spider mites can manipulate their reproductive output and adjust offspring sex ratio in response to dynamic social ...Missing: clutch | Show results with:clutch
[53]
A female heterogametic ZW sex-determination system in Acariformes
Oct 29, 2023 · Following standard practice for morphological sexing in oribatid mites, the presence of an ovipositor is used for identification of females; ...
[54]
[PDF] Class Arachnida, Order Acari
Arachnids have chelicerae that are fang-like or pincher-like ... nymphal stages (protonymph, deuteronymph and tritonymph) and adult (eight legs).Missing: monophyly evidence
[55]
Bee Mite ID - Life stages - IDtools
This is the first ontogenetic stage in mite development. In bee-associated mites, the prelarva is inactive, non-feeding, and sac-like (no legs or mouthparts).
[56]
[PDF] Beneficials: Predatory Mites - Utah State University Extension
Life cycle: Predatory mites have five stages in their life cycle—egg, six-legged larval stage, protonymph, deutonymph, and adult. Most beneficial species ...
[57]
House Dust Mites, Dermatophagoides spp. (Arachnida: Acari
The life cycles of these two mite species include egg, active larva, resting larva (pharate tritonymph), active tritonymph, resting tritonymph (pharate adult), ...
[58]
[PDF] Spider mites (Order: Acari, Family: Tetranychidae) - UGA Extension
Larva and nymphs complete development in 4 to 9 days depending on temperature and the females have a pre-oviposition period of 1 to. 2 days. Adults live about ...
[59]
A survey of lifespans in Oribatida excluding Astigmata (Acari) - Biotaxa
Dec 31, 2021 · The typical lifespan of an oribatid species in temperate or boreal regions lasts between 1 and 2 years, rarely 3 years.
[60]
Seasonal adaptations in the life cycles of mites and ticks
Primary adaptations enabling seasonal control of development in arthropods emerged most likely at the earliest steps of the origin of life on earth, and evolved ...
[61]
Oribatid mites show that soil food web complexity and close ... - Nature
Oct 22, 2019 · Terrestrial ecosystems above and below the ground are intricately linked by nutrient exchange between plants and soil-living decomposers.
[62]
Water mites (Acari: Parasitengona: Hydrachnidia) as inhabitants of ...
Of the European species, roughly one third is bound to standing waters, running waters, or groundwater-influenced habitats respectively, with rather few taxa ...
[63]
Marine mites (Halacaroidea: Acari): a geographical and ecological ...
Halacarid mites (Acari), with almost 700 species described, inhabit marine and freshwater habitats. The majority of genera are recorded from at least two ...
[64]
Plant Feeding Mites - Agricultural Research Council
More than 6 000 species of plant feeding (phytophagous) mites are known worldwide. ... They move relatively slowly and lie very flat against the plant surfaces.<|control11|><|separator|>
[65]
[PDF] Feather mite abundance varies but symbiotic nature of mite
Nov 20, 2017 · Abstract. Feather mites are obligatory ectosymbionts of birds that primarily feed on the oily secretions from the uropygial gland.<|control11|><|separator|>
[66]
First Canadian record of the water mite Thermacarus nevadensis ...
Jul 22, 2016 · Thermacarus mites are apparently hot spring specialists as all four known species have been collected in waters of at least 40ºC (Sokolow 1927, ...
[67]
A 7000-year Record of Oribatid Mite Communities on a Maritime ...
Jan 28, 2018 · We studied the fossil remains of the common Antarctic oribatid mites, Alaskozetes antarcticus and Halozetes belgicae, in sediment cores from ...
[68]
Changes in Soil Arthropod Abundance and Community Structure ...
Oct 15, 2018 · Dominant soil arthropod orders included Prostigmata mites (40%) and Oribatida mites (26.4%), followed by Hymenoptera (11.8%), Collembola (9.6%) ...
[69]
Vertical stratification of oribatid (Acari: Oribatida) communities in ...
Feb 7, 2007 · We observed vertical stratification among the five habitats in terms of mite density, species diversity, and species composition, but found no ...
[70]
Cuticle protein mediates the evolution of stress resistance by ...
Jun 18, 2025 · Our results reveal that phytophagous mites with thickened cuticles had an increased capacity to retain water and adapt within hot and arid ...Missing: waterproofing | Show results with:waterproofing
[71]
Water Mites - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics
Osmoregulation is apparently accomplished by the urstigmata in larvae, and by the genital acetabula in deutonymphs and adults (Barr, 1982). Both of these ...
[72]
[PDF] Chemosensory systems in predatory mites: from ecology to genome
May 5, 2021 · Foraging behavior of predatory mites requires the participation of olfactory and gustatory systems, as insect feeding habits are closely ...
[73]
[PDF] Trophic habits of mesostigmatid mites associated with bark beetles ...
Mesostigmatid mites associated with bark beetles are mostly predators, with over half feeding on arthropods or nematodes. Some feed on other mites.
[74]
Soil Nematodes as a Means of Conservation of Soil Predatory Mites ...
Numerous lab and field studies have reported the potential of soil predatory mites for the biological control of plant-parasitic nematodes and arthropods ...
[75]
Laboratory Identification of Arthropod Ectoparasites - PMC
Chiggers are mites in the family Trombiculidae. They are nuisance pests in the larval stage and can occasionally transmit disease (i.e., scrub typhus) in this ...Missing: vertebrates endoparasites hemocoel
[76]
Varroa destructor feeds primarily on honey bee fat body tissue and ...
Jan 15, 2019 · For five decades, we have believed that these mites consume hemolymph like a tick consumes blood, and that Varroa cause harm primarily by ...
[77]
Varroosis - USDA ARS
Jan 27, 2021 · Varroa mites also vector numerous viruses. The RNA virus Deformed Wing Virus (DWV) causes infected bees to emerge with deformed and damaged ...
[78]
Phoresy and Mites: More Than Just a Free Ride - Annual Reviews
Jan 23, 2023 · Transitions from phoresy to parasitism seem widespread, but evidence for transitions from obligate phoretic parasitism to permanent parasitism ...
[79]
A mutualistic symbiosis between a parasitic mite and a pathogenic ...
Mar 7, 2016 · The parasitic mite Varroa destructor and the deformed wing virus (DWV) are linked in a mutualistic symbiosis. The mite acts as vector of the ...
[80]
Changes in diversity and functional groups of soil mite communities ...
Mites are the most abundant microarthropods in soil communities that occupy several trophic levels in soil food webs and play important role in litter ...
[81]
Soil Microarthropods and Soil Health: Intersection of Decomposition ...
Microarthropods can impact soil and plant health directly by feeding on pest organisms or serving as alternate prey for larger predatory arthropods.
[82]
Hitchhiking or hang gliding? Dispersal strategies of two cereal ...
Tests showed that a 50-cm distance allows for aerial mite dispersal and the active movement of insect vectors, but not the active movement (walking) of mites.
[83]
Cooperative Behaviors in Group-Living Spider Mites - Frontiers
Collective ballooning is characterized by mites aggregating on the apex of leaves or plants, forming balls by joint webbing, and being carried away by the wind ...
[84]
Slow-moving soil organisms on a water highway: aquatic dispersal ...
Jul 2, 2019 · Particularly, oribatid mites are highly limited in their dispersal ability, even in distances of only five centimetres, while springtails show ...
[85]
Mite dispersal among the Southern Ocean Islands and Antarctica ...
Oct 13, 2010 · Our data add to a growing body of evidence demonstrating that many taxa have survived glaciation of the Antarctic continent and the sub- ...
[86]
Invasive Mite Species in the Americas: Bioecology and Impact
Feb 19, 2020 · This movement is often mediated by human activities, either deliberately or unintentionally. Survival barriers : these often refer to ...Missing: via | Show results with:via
[87]
About Scabies - CDC
Sep 9, 2024 · Scabies is caused by the human itch mite (Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis). The microscopic scabies mite burrows into the upper layer of the skin ...
[88]
Demodex: a skin resident in man and his best friend - PubMed
Demodex mites are microscopic arachnids found in the normal skin of many mammals ... In dogs, demodicosis is a significant veterinary issue, particularly ...
[89]
Demodectic Mange in Dogs - Veterinary Partner - VIN
Demodectic mange, also called demodicosis, is caused by one of the microscopic mites of the Demodex genus. Three species of Demodex mites have been ...
[90]
How Lyme Disease Spreads - CDC
Sep 24, 2024 · Lyme disease bacteria causing human infection in the United States are spread to people by blacklegged (Ixodes) ticks.
[91]
Dust mite allergens and asthma: a worldwide problem - PMC - NIH
Two sets of major allergens from mites of the genus Dermatophagoides are now well recognized. The Group I allergens are glycoproteins of relative molecular mass ...
[92]
Storage Mites - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics
Allergic contact dermatitis results from exposure to mites in grains, dried fruits, flour, and other stored products, causing itching and redness at the contact ...
[93]
Ear Mites in Cats and Dogs | VCA Animal Hospitals
The ear mite, Otodectes cynotis, is a surface mite that lives on cats, dogs, and ferrets. It is usually found in the ear canal, but can also live on the skin ...
[94]
sarcoptic mange or scabies in cattle - Learn About Parasites
The primary clinical sign of sarcoptic mange in cattle and sheep is intense pruritus, which may interfere with meat and ilk production, and there may also be ...
[95]
Climate Change Indicators: Lyme Disease | US EPA
Studies provide evidence that climate change has contributed to the expanded range of ticks,3 increasing the potential risk of Lyme disease, such as in areas ...Missing: 2020s | Show results with:2020s
[96]
Spider Mites / Strawberry / Agriculture: Pest Management ... - UC IPM
Mite feeding during this critical period of plant growth substantially reduces berry number per plant and overall plantation yield. Yield loss is detectable at ...<|separator|>
[97]
Impact of twospotted spider mite (Acari: Tetranychidae) on growth ...
The economic yield of cucumber began to significantly decrease as early as 4 wk after heavy mite infestations. This study also showed the seasonal differences ...
[98]
Tetranychidae), on Marketable Yields of Field-Grown Strawberries in ...
Aug 1, 2013 · In 2009/2010, a significant effect of twospotted spider mites on the marketable yields was only recorded on the last two sampling dates. ...
[99]
Galls and Rust made by Mites | VCE Publications - Virginia Tech
Nov 29, 2022 · Some free-living eriophyid mites produce the plant damage known as “rust” as they feed. These mites remove the contents of plant cells through their mouthparts.
[100]
Invertebrates: Blister, bud, erineum, gall, and rust mites—UC IPM
Eriophyids are named for a primary type of damage they cause, such as blister mites, bud mites, gall mites, and rust mites. For example, fuchsia gall mite ( ...
[101]
[PDF] Crop Protection and Quarantine FY - USDA ARS
Economic losses of our food and fiber due to insects, mites, and weeds, however, are considerable, with estimates in the tens of billions of dollars. Pest ...
[102]
Acarus Siro - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics
Acarus siro, commonly known as the flour mite, is a stored-product pest that infests various food items such as cereals, flour, and dried fruits, ...
[103]
Booklice (Liposcelis spp.), Grain Mites (Acarus siro), and Flour ... - NIH
In addition to causing loss and consumer rejection of products, these pests can elicit allergic reactions and perhaps spread disease-causing microorganisms.
[104]
Mites and the implications on human health - PubMed
The activity of the mites causes loss of sanitary quality, weight and nutritional composition of the infested products, with great economic loss in the grain ...
[105]
The Real Costs of Stored Product Pests
Dec 8, 2017 · But monitoring is of critical importance because stored product pests are capable of causing great financial losses once a facility becomes ...
[106]
Spruce Spider Mite on Fraser Fir | NC State Extension Publications
Spider mite damage can cause serious economic loss, especially if the trees are nearing harvest. In some cases, trees tagged for market have had to be left to ...Missing: pine | Show results with:pine
[107]
Forest Insects and Climate Change | Current Forestry Reports
Apr 30, 2018 · Climate change affects populations of forest insect pests in a number of ways. We reviewed the most recent literature (2013–2017) on this subject.Missing: mites | Show results with:mites
[108]
Temperature and precipitation affect seasonal changes in mite ...
Mar 23, 2022 · An increase of precipitation enhanced the Mesostigmata abundance by 179%, whereas warming increased it only by 8.2%. However, these data have ...
[109]
Tree-Killing Pests Across the United States Are Increasing the Th
Oct 19, 2021 · A new study finds forest insects and diseases are causing emissions of nearly 50 million tons of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere each year.
[110]
Pest Counts & Action Thresholds in the Greenhouse
Apr 12, 2022 · It was shown that action thresholds of 7 mites per leaf are reached on plants greater than 5 weeks in production. Alternatively, action ...
[111]
Establishing Action Thresholds - UC IPM
Establish thresholds by regularly monitoring plants in a consistent and systematic manner. Keep good records and judge the acceptability of the finished crop ...
[112]
(PDF) Resistance development in mites to plant protection chemicals
Aug 10, 2025 · Resistance to acaricides in the Tetranychidae develops after one to four years of use (Singh 2010). The factors contributing to the generation ...<|separator|>
[113]
Acaricide resistance of the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus ...
Unfortunately, T. urticae has a well-documented history of rapidly developing tolerance and/or resistance to most of the acaricides registered for their control ...
[114]
Mechanisms of Resistance to Acaricides - SpringerLink
Resistance mechanisms elucidated in mites to date are similar to those found in insects and consist chiefly of reduced penetration, enhanced degradation, and ...
[115]
Phytoseiulus persimilis–Predatory Mite - Cornell CALS
Adult Phytoseiulus persimilis has the highest consumption rate of all biocontrol predatory mites available against Tetranychus web-spinning spider mites.Biocontrol Agent Factsheet · About Phytoseiulus... · Pests Targeted By...Missing: efficacy studies
[116]
[PDF] Biological Control of Spider Mites - University of Connecticut
Adult Phytoseiulus persimilis feeds on all stages of two-spotted spider mites. ... To evaluate effectiveness, look for dead, shriveled spider mites that have.Missing: efficacy studies
[117]
[PDF] TOOLS FOR VARROA MANAGEMENT - Honey Bee Health Coalition
Aug 9, 2015 · Bee colonies can tolerate a low number of mites, but will decline or die as mite numbers rise. Monitoring (sampling) for Varroa mites enables a.
[118]
Forensic acarology: an introduction | Experimental and Applied ...
Jul 16, 2009 · In this article we present an overview of mites in forensics and ask what capacity they have to make a greater contribution to modern investigations.
[119]
Assemblages of Acari in shallow burials: mites as markers of ... - NIH
Oct 7, 2021 · This study highlights the value of mites as indicator species of decomposition and its stages, confirming (1) a succession of Acari on buried remains and (2) ...
[120]
Soil Mite Introduction - Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute
Oribatid mites are a good indicator of soil health, helping to ensure that soils are functioning as healthy living ecosystems that can sustain above-ground ...
[121]
Oribatid mites in different Mediterranean crop rotations fertilized with ...
Jun 20, 2023 · The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of oribatids as bioindicators of sustainable agricultural practices.
[122]
[PDF] Oribatid mite communities in soil: structure, function and response to ...
Soil oribatid mites are a major group of wingless microarthropods in many temperate forests and these organisms perform important functions during litter decay; ...
[123]
Armored Mites, Beetle Mites, or Moss Mites: The Fantastic World of ...
Nov 3, 2020 · Generally, oribatid mites live in soils and feed on fungi, bacteria, and soil particles, making them very important for decomposition processes.
[124]
The Project Gutenberg eBook of Pascal's Pensées, by Blaise Pascal.
Let a mite be given him, with its minute body and parts incomparably more minute, limbs with their joints, veins in the limbs, blood in the veins, humours ...
[125]
The true identity of Pascal's mite and the diachronic use of ciron
Finally, ciron meant all mites. The famous French popularizer, J.-H. Fabre, still used ciron to designate mites in one of his best-known books (Fabre, 1875).
[126]
Microscopic view of mites and book-worms
Hooke, Robert. “Microscopic View of Mites and Book-Worms.” In Micrographia : or, Some Physiological Descriptions of Minute Bodies Made by Magnifying Glasses.
[127]
The first mite: insect genealogy in Hooke's Micrographia - PubMed
Section 2 shows how Hooke introduced the concept of a 'prime parent' (an Adam-insect) to explain the anatomical similarities between 'mites'. Section 3 ...
[128]
Mircea Cărtărescu's Interview for De Reactor: On Solenoid, mites ...
Oct 6, 2022 · In Solenoid, using a science fiction device, the main character is sent to the world of mites. He becomes a sort of messiah for the mites, a ...
[129]
Ethnoacarology: the cultural importance of Acari around the world
In this paper, I define ethnoacarology as the branch of acarology that compiles, documents, and analyzes the cultural values given to mites and ticks by a ...
[130]
https://www1.montpellier.inrae.fr/CBGP/acarologia/article.php?id=4501
[131]
Meet the Dust Mites, Tiny Roommates That Feast On Your Skin - PBS
Apr 5, 2016 · Deep Look is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire ...Missing: diversity | Show results with:diversity
[132]
Demodex - Know Your Meme
Oct 29, 2024 · Demodex mites have periodically gone viral on the internet, usually after an artistic rendering of the mite garners virality on social media.