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mite

 
American Heritage Dictionary:

mite1

Home > Library > Literature & Language > Dictionary
(mīt) pronunciation
n.
Any of various small or minute arachnids of the order Acarina that are often parasitic on animals and plants, infest stored food products, and in some species transmit disease.

[Middle English, from Old English mīte.]


mite2 (mīt) pronunciation
n.
    1. A very small contribution or amount of money.
    2. A widow's mite.
  2. A very small object, creature, or particle.
  3. A coin of very small value, especially an obsolete British coin worth half a farthing.
idiom:

a mite

  1. To a small degree; somewhat: That remark was a mite unfair.

[Middle English, from Middle Dutch and Middle Low German mīte, a small Flemish coin, tiny animal.]


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Wiley Book of Astronomy:

Red Spider Nebula

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Red Spider Nebula (NGC 6537)

A bipolar planetary nebula in Sagittarius centered on one of the hottest white dwarfs ever observed, probably a member of a binary system. Stellar winds have been measured blowing from the central stars at over 300 km/s. These hot winds expand the nebula, flow along the nebula's walls, and cause gas and dust to collide. See also Bug Nebula.


Red Spider Nebula The complex patterns in the Red Spider are due to supersonic shocks formed when the local interstellar gas is compressed and heated ahead of the rapidly expanding lobes of material thrown out by the central star. Atoms caught in the shocks radiate the visible light seen in this Hubble Space Telescope photo. The process has been under way long enough to make the edges of the lobe walls look as if they have started to fracture into wave crests. NASA/ESA/Garrelt Mellema (Leiden University, the Netherlands)


Visual magnitude:13
Apparent diameter:0.2′
Distance:1,900 light-years
Position:R.A. 18h 5.2m, Dec. −19° 51′

Britannica Concise Encyclopedia:

mite

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Red velvet mite (Dinothrombium; magnified about five times)
(click to enlarge)
Red velvet mite (Dinothrombium; magnified about five times) (credit: Anthony Bannister — The Natural History Photographic Agency/EB Inc.)
Any of about 20,000 species of tiny arachnids (subclass Acari, sometimes Acarina or Acarida). Species range from microscopic to 0.25 in. (6 mm) long. Mites live in water and soil, on plants, and as plant and animal parasites. Both parasitic and nonparasitic forms transmit plant and animal diseases. Itch mites (family Sarcoptidae), which burrow into the skin of humans and animals, cause the highly contagious disease scabies. A few species transmit tapeworms to cattle. Grain mites (family Glycyphagidae) damage stored products and irritate the skin of those who handle the products. House dust allergy is caused by species of the common genus Dermatophagoides. See also chigger.

For more information on mite, visit Britannica.com.

Columbia Encyclopedia:

mite

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mite, small, often microscopic chelicerate that, along with the tick, makes up the order Acarina; they are related to the spiders. The unsegmented mite body is typically oval and compact, although a few, mostly parasites, are elongated and wormlike. There are four pairs of legs. The movable head is attached to the body by a hinge. There are four stages in the life cycle: egg, larva, nymph, and adult.

The thousands of different mite species are worldwide in distribution and occupy diverse habitats, including plant galls, mosses, other animals, and surface litter or upper layers of the soil. One group, the water mites, has returned to an aquatic environment, both fresh- and saltwater. Mites eat plant or animal substances, decaying organisms, and humus, and also infest stored food products such as cheese, meat, grains, and flour. The spider mite, or red spider, which is a mite and not a spider, feeds on plants and is destructive to crops. Many mites are parasitic on other arthropods, on mollusks, or on vertebrates. Mange and scabies mites lay their eggs in the skin and cause irritation in humans and fur-bearing animals. Other species are parasitic on the skin of birds and reptiles, and some live in the respiratory channels of birds and mammals. Chiggers, the larvae of harvest mites, transmit the organism that causes scrub typhus. Fowl mites feed on the blood of poultry. House dust mites, which thrive in moist environments and eat flakes of human skin and other minute organic material, produce digestive enzymes that are excreted in their feces and produce allergic reactions in many people.

The larger members of the order Acarina, the ticks, are all parasitic in at least one developmental stage; most parasitize mammals and birds although some have reptilian and amphibian hosts. Tick-borne diseases of livestock (e.g., babesiosis, anaplasmosis) are of great economic significance. An anchoring structure in the tick's mouth enables it to embed its entire head under the skin of the host, where it sucks the host's blood. If a tick is pulled off the host, the head usually remains embedded in the skin. Members of the family (Argasidae) of soft ticks, with a membranous outer covering, hide in crevices and come out at night to suck blood. Hard ticks (family Ixodidae), which have thickened outer plates made of chitin, remain attached to the host for long periods.

Ticks transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia, Lyme disease, equine encephalitis, several forms of ehrlichiosis, and other diseases. Each species needs three different hosts to complete its life cycle. Typically the larval stage will feed on small reptiles, birds, or mammals; the nymph stage will parasitize larger vertebrates; and adults will parasitize large herbivores and livestock. The adult of the ixodid species Ixodes dammini, the vector of Lyme disease in the E United States and Canada, usually chooses deer as its host (I. dammini of all stages will feed on humans). The closely related I. pacificus, which transmits Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever in the western states, prefers livestock in the adult stage. Ticks can sometimes harbor more than one disease organism at a time.

Mites and ticks belong in the phylum Arthropoda, subphylum Chelicerata, class Arachnida, order Acarina.

Taylor's Dictionary for Gardeners:

mite

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A virtually invisible spiderlike arachnid that sucks sap from leaves. Mites are especially troublesome in warm dry weather. Also called spider mite.

mite

Word Tutor:

mite

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pronunciation

IN BRIEF: A very small amount or portion. Also: A tiny animal related to spiders and ticks.

pronunciation It was a mite difficult to ride the bicycle in the rainstorm.

Tutor's tip: While he "might" (may) be just a "mite" (a small child or parasite) don't underestimate his "might" (power or strength).

LearnThatWord.com is a free vocabulary and spelling program where you only pay for results!

Oxford Dictionary of Biochemistry:

MITE

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abbr. for miniature inverted-repeat transposable element.

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Next:MITF, MK, MLD
Saunders Veterinary Dictionary:

mite

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Any arthropod of the order Acarina except the ticks; they are characterized by minute size, usually transparent or semitransparent body, and other features distinguishing them from the ticks. They may be free living or parasitic on animals or plants, and may produce various irritations of the skin. See mange, chigger, harvest mites, psorergates ovis, demodectic, notoedric, otodectic, and many locality names, e.g. cat fur mites, ear mites, nasal mites, and other special titles, e.g. harvest mites, housedust mites.

Random House Word Menu:

categories related to 'mite'

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Random House Word Menu by Stephen Glazier
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Bradford's Crossword Solver's Dictionary:

mite

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Wikipedia on Answers.com:

Mite

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The microscopic mite Lorryia formosa (Tydeidae)

Mites, along with ticks, are small arthropods belonging to the subclass Acari (also known as Acarina) and the class Arachnida. The scientific discipline devoted to the study of ticks and mites is called acarology.

Contents

Diversity and systematics

Lime nail galls on Tilia × europaea, caused by the mite Eriophyes tiliae

Acari are mites, except for the three families of ticks. 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) go largely unnoticed. Many live freely in the soil or water, but there are also a large number of species that live as parasites on plants, animals, and some that feed on mold. It is estimated that 48,200 species of mites have been described.[1]

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.

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.[2]

Medical significance

Sarcoptes scabiei, the cause of scabies

Dust mites cause several forms of allergic diseases, including hay fever, asthma and eczema and are known to aggravate atopic dermatitis.[3] Mites are usually found in warm and humid locations, including beds. It is thought that inhalation of mites during sleep exposes the human body to some antigens that eventually induce hypersensitivity reaction.[4] Dust mite allergens are thought to be among the heaviest dust allergens.[5]

Like most of the other types of allergy, treatment of mite allergy starts with avoidance. There is a strong body of evidence showing that avoidance should be helpful in patients with atopic dermatitis triggered by exposure to mites.[6] Regular washing of mattresses and blankets with hot water can help in this regard.[7] Antihistamines are also useful; Cetirizine, for example, is shown to reduce allergic symptoms of patients.[8]

However, not all types of mites are infectious to humans, such as Alaskozetes antarcticus, an Arctic mite.[6]

See also

Cercophonius squama.jpg Arthropods portal

References

  1. ^ R. B. Halliday, B. M. OConnor & A. S. Baker (2000). "Global Diversity of Mites". In Peter H. Raven & Tania Williams. Nature and human society: the quest for a sustainable world : proceedings of the 1997 Forum on Biodiversity. National Academies. pp. 192–212. http://books.google.com/books?id=nDgrAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA192. 
  2. ^ Michael Heethoff & Lars Koerner (2007). "Small but powerful – the oribatid mite Archegozetes longisetosus Aoki (Acari, Oribatida) produces disproportionate high forces". Journal of Experimental Biology 210 (17): 3036–3042. doi:10.1242/jeb.008276. PMID 17704078. 
  3. ^ Paul Klenerman, Brian Lipworth. "House dust mite allergy". NetDoctor. http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/health_advice/facts/allergyhousedustmite.htm. Retrieved February 20, 2008. 
  4. ^ "Hypersensitivity reaction to mite allergens". Allergy Guide. http://www.alergy.org.uk/mite-alergy.html. Retrieved February 20, 2008. 
  5. ^ "Dust allergens". AllergyEscape.com. http://www.allergyescape.com/dust-mites.html. Retrieved February 20, 2008. 
  6. ^ a b "Consultation and referral guidelines citing the evidence: how the allergist–immunologist can help.". National Guideline Clearinghouse. February 2006. http://www.guidelines.gov/summary/summary.aspx?doc_id=9334&nbr=005003. Retrieved 2008-02-20. 
  7. ^ "Rhinitis management.". National Guideline Clearinghouse. May 2003. http://www.guidelines.gov/summary/summary.aspx?doc_id=3875&nbr=003084. Retrieved February 20, 2008. 
  8. ^ Giorgio Ciprandi, Mariangela Tosca, Giovanni Passalacqua & G. W. Canonica (September 2001). "Long-term cetirizine treatment reduces allergic symptoms and drug prescriptions in children with mite allergy". Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology 87 (2): 222–226. doi:10.1016/S1081-1206(10)62230-2. PMID 11570619. 

External links

Extant arthropod classes by subphylum
Kingdom Animalia · Subkingdom Eumetazoa · (unranked) Bilateria · (unranked) Protostomia · Superphylum Ecdysozoa
Chelicerata
Myriapoda
Hexapoda
Crustacea

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

Translations:

Mite

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Dansk (Danish)
1.
n. - [zool.] mide

2.
n. - lille smule, skærv
adv. - lidt, en smule

Nederlands (Dutch)
mijt, puk, tikkeltje, koperstukje

Français (French)
1.
n. - pauvre petit, acarien

2.
n. - un tantinet
adv. - quelque peu, plutôt

Deutsch (German)
1.
n. - Milbe

2.
n. - Knirps, kleines Ding, Scherflein
adv. - etwas , ein bißchen

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - μικροποσό, (εντομ.) άκαρι
adj. - λιγουλάκι

Italiano (Italian)
oggetto piccolo, piccola quantità, piccino (bambino), acaro

Português (Portuguese)
n. - ácaro (m) (Entom.), esmola (f)
adj. - de valor diminuto

Русский (Russian)
скромная доля, грош, капелька, крошечное существо, клещ

Español (Spanish)
1.
n. - chiquillo, ácaro

2.
n. - pizca, mota
adv. - hasta cierto punto, de alguna manera, un poco

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - skärv, liten smula, pyre, kvalster
adj. - pytte-

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
1. 小蜘蛛, 小虱

2. 微小的东西, 小孩, 一点点, 极少的钱

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
1.
n. - 微小的東西, 小孩, 一點點, 極少的錢

2.
n. - 小蜘蛛, 小虱

한국어 (Korean)
1.
n. - (벌레의 일종) 진드기

2.
n. - 잔돈, 작은 금액의 성금, 어린 아이, 조금
adv. - 조금

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - ダニ, ごく小さいもの, 半ファージング, 少額の金, 少量, 少々, フランドルの小額銅貨, 小銭, 子供

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) سوس, , عث, عفن (صفه) قليل, ضئيل‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮אקרית (טפיל)‬
n. - ‮פרוטה, תרומה קטנה, ילדון‬
adv. - ‮מעט, פורתא, ליתר דיוק‬

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American Heritage Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wiley Book of Astronomy. Copyright © 2004 by Wiley-Blackwell. Wiley and the Wiley logo are registered trademarks of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and other countries. Used here by license.  Read more
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. © 1994-2012 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Roget's Thesaurus. Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary Copyright © 1995 byHoughton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Columbia Encyclopedia. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. www.cc.columbia.edu/cu/cup/.  Read more
Taylor's Dictionary for Gardeners. Taylor's Dictionary for Gardeners, by Frances Tenenbaum. Copyright © 1997 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Word Tutor. Copyright © 2004-present by eSpindle Learning, a 501(c) nonprofit organization. All rights reserved.
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 Oxford Dictionary of Biochemistry. Oxford University Press. Oxford Dictionary of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology © 1997, 2000, 2006 All rights reserved.  Read more
Saunders Veterinary Dictionary. Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. Copyright © 2007 by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier. All rights reserved.  Read more
Random House Word Menu. © 2010 Write Brothers Inc. Word Menu is a registered trademark of the Estate of Stephen Glazier. Write Brothers Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
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Bradford's Crossword Solver's Dictionary. Collins Bradford's Crossword Solver's Dictionary © Anne Bradford, 1986, 1993, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2008 HarperCollins Publishers All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia on Answers.com. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Mite.  Read more
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