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Mites

Mites, along with ticks, belong to the subclass Acarina (also known as Acari) and the class Arachnida. Mites are among the most diverse and successful of all the invertebrate groups. They have exploited an incredible array of habitats, and because of their small size (most are microscopic) most go totally unnoticed. Many live freely in the soil or water, but there are also a large number of species that live as parasites on plants or animals and even some that feed on mold.

Some of the plant pests include the so called spider mites (family Tetranychidae), thread-footed mites (family Tarsonemidae), and the gall mites (family Eriophyidae). Among the species that attack animals are members of the Sarcoptic Mange mites (family Sarcoptidae), which burrow under the skin. Demodex mites (family Demodicidae) are parasites that live in or near the hair follicles of mammals, including humans. Perhaps the best-known mite, 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 (family Tarsonemidae), which lives in the tracheae of honey bees. There are hundreds of species of mites associated with other bee species, and most are poorly described and understood. Some are thought to be parasites, while others beneficial symbionts.

There are over 45,000 described species of mites. Scientists believe that we have only found 5% of the total diversity of mites. Mites are believed to have existed for around 400 million years.

The scientific discipline devoted to the study of ticks and mites is called acarology.

To kill these Acarinas most doctors say "swimming in a pool kills mites." The chlorine removes them from the body and the water drowns them.

The tropical species Archegozetes longisetosus is one of the strongest animals in the world, relative to its mass (100 μg): It lifts up to 1182 times its own weight, over five times more than would be expected of such a minute animal (Heethoff & Koerner 2007).

Removing Mites

Here are some suggestions on how to eliminate mites, but these may not work all of the time.

• Place Isopods (pill bugs, or rollie pollies) in your enclosure. They are know to eat mites, and will also clean up after your scorpion by eating un-eaten food parts.
• Put your scorpion in a arid enclosure and put a water dish in the corner. The mites may be attracted to the water dish, allowing you to dispose of them once they leave the scorpion.
• Use a mite trap: Take a deli dish, put several holes in the top of it. Then coat the sides with petroleum jelly. Then put a few dead crickets inside the dish. The mites will enter the dish but be unable to leave because of the jelly.
• Introduce predatory mites into the mix: http://www.mega-mites.com (Hypoaspis miles)

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