Fur mite bites

Season for dog fur mites — Fig. 82. Most cases are discovered during the winter.

The mouth parts are hidden inside a pointy protrusion between the two major palpates in the front.

A cannula
In essence, the mouth parts consist of two dagger-shaped stylets that are actually transformed claws. When the stylets pierce the skin, they form a small tube. The tube may be inserted into the skin like a cannula. It does not go deep into the skin, only 10 -20 micrometers into the stratum corneum. This is the reason why fur mites cannot suck blood.

External digestion
Saliva is injected into the skin through the small tube. When the enzyme-containing saliva has dissolved the tissue around the stylets, the mite retracts the stylets, thereby enabling the musculary pump of the throat to pump the dissolved tissue into the abdomen.

About
Latest Posts

Henri Mourier

Biologist at Statens Skadedyrslaboratorium

Author of:
"Pests in House and Home"
"Bed Bugs - Bites, Stings and Itches"
"Food Pests"
"Husets dyreliv" (Insects Around the House - Only danish)
"Skadedyr i træ" (Timber Pests - Only danish)
"Stuefluen" (Common Housefly - Only danish)