mite

Mites are small arthropods belonging to the subclass Acari within the class Arachnida. They form a highly diverse group found in nearly every habitat, including soil, leaf litter, stored products, freshwater and marine environments, and on or inside plants and animals. Many species are microscopic or barely visible to the naked eye.

Anatomy and life cycle: mites have a body plan in which the cephalothorax and abdomen are fused into an idiosoma, and they possess four pairs of legs as adults. They lack antennae and have mouthparts adapted as chelicerae and pedipalps. In many groups the life cycle includes egg, larva (six-legged), and several nymphal instars before reaching the adult. Reproduction and development vary among species, with some producing many offspring and others being more specialized.

Ecology and habitats: mites occupy a wide range of niches. They are free-living predators, detritivores, herbivores, or parasites. Habitats include soil and leaf litter, animal or plant surfaces, nests, stored products, and indoor environments. Some mites are obligate parasites of animals or humans, while others are important biological control agents against pest insects and other mites.

Economic and health significance: dust mites contribute to indoor allergies and asthma; spider mites threaten crops; parasitic mites such as Sarcoptes scabiei cause scabies in humans and mange in animals. Varroa destructor damages honeybee colonies and is a major concern in apiculture. Chiggers are larval parasites in some environments.

Taxonomy note: “mites” are a broad term for many Acari, a diverse subset of arachnids, and are not insects. Biological control often employs predatory mites to manage pest species.