Tetranychidae - Spider mites
Eriophyidae - Gall mites
Sarcoptidae - Sarcoptic Mange mites
The
mites and
ticks, order
Acarina or
Acari, belong to the Arachnida and are among the most diverse and successful of all the
invertebrate groups, although some way behind the
insects. They have exploited an incredible array of habitats and because of their small size (some are truly microscopic) most go totally unnoticed. Many live freely in the soil, but there is also a vast array of species that live as
parasites on plants or animals.
Some of the plant pests include the so-called Spider mites (family Tetranychidae) 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
trachea.
The scientific discipline devoted to the study of ticks and mites is called
Acarology.
See also
Image:Rust Mite, Aceria anthocoptes.jpg|Rust mite
Aceria anthocoptes
Image:Flat mite, Brevipalpus phoenicis.jpg|Flat mite
Brevipalpus phoenicis
Image:Yellow mite (Tydeidae), Lorryia formosa.jpg|Yellow mite
Lorryia formosa
Image:Yellow mite (Tydeidae), Lorryia formosa 2.jpg|Yellow mite
Lorryia formosa
de:Milben
es:Ácaro
pt:Ácaro
eo:Akaro
fr:Acarien
it:Acari
ja:ダニ
nl:Mijt
Category:Arachnids