Mite

Mites are a group of small organisms that belong to the sub-class Acari (along with the ticks) in the class Arachnida.

There are over 40,000 described species of mite and scientists believe that this represents less than 5% of the actual number of mite species. Mites have a very diverse variety of habits ranging from parasitic mange mites to free-living mites in the soil.

You even have mites living in the hair follicles on your head.

The Rust Mite (Aceria anthocoptes), a potential biological control agent of the weed, Canada Thistle. Magnified 1,400X.
Photograph by Erbe & Pooley: United States Department of Health and Human Services.

Related terms

• Acari
• Arachnid
• Harvest mite
• Lyme disease
• Minibeast
• Opiliones
• Phoresy
• Scorpion
• Spider
• Tick
• Varroa mite

Related groups of terms

• General biology

Related pages on this web site

• Arachnids

See other words beginning with M