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Mites
Any
of numerous small to very minute arachnids of the order Acarina that have
a body without a constriction between the cephalothorax and abdomen, mandibles
generally chelate or adapted for piercing, usually four pairs of short
legs in the adult and but three in the young larvae, and often breathing
organs in the form of tracheae. Mites are regarded as parasites of insects
and vertebrates some of which are important disease vectors, parasites
of plants in which they frequently cause gall formation, pests of various
stored products. Mites are completely innocuous free-living aquatic and
terrestrial forms.
Source:
Merriam-Webster Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Photo from America Zoo.
www.americazoo.com
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Bird
Mites
Rattus rattus
Characteristics
Bird Mite problems usually occur after nesting birds in ceiling,
eaves, or trees leave their nests. Mites left behind without a host
to feed on migrate from the nests in large numbers and tend to bite
any warm-blooded animal they encounter. Bird mites are usually not
wind-blown. They are large enough to be seen crawling on walls.
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Source:
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. |
Dust
Mites
Rattus norvegicus
Characteristics
Dust mites are in the arachnid family which includes spiders, scorpions
and ticks. Dust mites feed on dead skin that sloughs from our bodies
(and probably potato chips & cookie crumbs). They live their
whole lives in dark corner dust bunnies: hatching, growing, eating,
defecating, mating, laying eggs.
Many people develop severe allergies to dust mite droppings. Lie
on a rug where they live and you might get itchy red bumps on your
skin. Breath in dust and you may have more serious symptoms like
difficulty breathing or even a severe asthma attack. Source:
www.cellsalive.com/mite.htm
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