Mite

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For the small coin, see Greek lepton

{{Taxobox | color = pink | name = Mites | image = Peacock mite, Tuckerella sp.jpg | image_width = 240px | image_caption = Peacock mite
Tuckerella nilotica | regnum = Animalia | phylum = Arthropoda | classis = Arachnida | ordo = Acarina | ordo_authority = Leach, 1817 | subdivision_ranks = Families | subdivision = Tetranychidae - Spider mites
Eriophyidae - Gall mites
Trombidiidae - Velvet mites
Sarcoptidae - Sarcoptic Mange mites }}

The mites, together with ticks, belong to the order Acarina or Acari, class Arachnida, and are among the most diverse and successful of all the invertebrate groups. They have exploited an incredible array of habitats and because of their small size (some are microscopic) most go totally unnoticed. Many live freely in the soil or water, but there is also a large number of species that live as parasites on plants or animals.

Some of the plant pests include the so called Spider mites (family Tetranychidae), Thread-Footed mites (family Tarsonemidae), and the Gall mites (family Eriophyidae). Among the species that attack animals there are members of the Sarcoptic Mange mites (family Sarcoptidae), which burrow under the skin. Perhaps the most well known, though, is the house dust mite (family Pyroglyphidae).

Insects may also have parasitic mites. Examples are Varroa destructor which attaches to the body of the honeybee and Acarapis woodi, which lives in the tracheae of honeybees.

There are 45,000 different types of mites. Scientists belive that we have only found 5% of the species of mites. Mites have been around for 400 million years.

The scientific discipline devoted to the study of ticks and mites is called Acarology.

External Links

• Red Velvet Mite - Trombidium sp. diagnostic photographs
• Worldwide Honey Bee decline due to mite infestations - article, photographs

See also

• harvest mite
• chigger
• acaricide
• pesticide
• Diseases of the honeybee

Rust mite Aceria anthocoptes	Flat mite Brevipalpus phoenicis	House dust mite Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus	Yellow mite Lorryia formosa
Yellow mite Lorryia formosa	Plant mites forming a reproductive colony

Template:Wikispecies Template:Wikibooksparde:Milben es:Ácaro pt:Ácaro Template:Link FA eo:Akaro fr:Acarien it:Acari ja:ダニ nl:Mijt no:Midd pl:Roztocze (pajęczaki) sv:Kvalster