Most mites are quite small. Some of them can only just be seen with the naked eye – as whitish particles, the size of a full stop in this book. In strong magnifying glass, they are similar in appearance to spiders. The mites do not constitute a natural grouping, however, it constitutes a place where you have placed the arthropods that by reducing the number of hops over millions of years has been to bladder-shaped organisms with legs. Mites have no head. The Group’s Latin name, Acari, is derived from Greek and means simply “the headless”. The mites lay eggs and the first stage has six legs – like insects. The later stages and adult males and females have eight legs. The mites do not have any wings and travels by being blown by the wind or by crawling around. Most mites are blind and deaf. They move around by feeling and smelling their way. In comparison with the insects, the mites have very thin skin.
Consequently, they are forced to live in places of high humidity. In dry environments, the mites will of dehydration.
About a thousand different mite species are known in Denmark. The vast majority of these have neither the ability to annoy people, nor the intentions. Of the remaining mites, there are a few that attacks people (ticks itch mites, fur mites, etc.) as well as some that might cause skin symptoms in humans (house dust mites, storage mites, etc.).Finally, few species have bad reputations (follicle mites, ear mites and nasal mites). Mite species can only be determined by means of a microscope.
"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)