Ácaros

Ácaros are tiny arthropods belonging to the subclass Acari. They are incredibly diverse, with over 50,000 described species, and are found in almost every habitat on Earth, from deep oceans to high mountains. Many species are microscopic, making them invisible to the naked eye.

Commonly encountered mites include dust mites, which live in household dust and feed on shed human skin. These are a significant cause of allergies and asthma for many people. Other mites can be parasitic, living on the skin or in the bodies of animals, including humans. Examples include scabies mites, which burrow into the skin causing intense itching, and ear mites, often found in the ears of pets.

Some mites are beneficial. For instance, predatory mites are used in biological pest control to manage populations of agricultural pests like spider mites. Other mites play important roles in decomposition and nutrient cycling in soil ecosystems. Their life cycles typically involve egg, larva, nymph, and adult stages, though the exact number of nymphal stages can vary. Reproduction is usually sexual, but some species can reproduce parthenogenetically. While often associated with negative impacts like allergies or disease transmission, the vast majority of mite species are harmless or even beneficial to ecosystems.