acarid
An acarid is a mite or a tick. These are small arachnids belonging to the subclass Acari. They are incredibly diverse, with over 50,000 described species, and are found in virtually every habitat on Earth. Acari can be parasitic, feeding on plants, animals, or even humans, or they can be free-living, inhabiting soil, water, or decaying organic matter.
Parasitic acarids can cause a range of problems. Some, like the scabies mite, burrow into the skin
Free-living acarids play important roles in ecosystems. Dust mites, for example, are common in homes and feed