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mite

 
Dictionary: mite1   (mīt) pronunciation
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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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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; it is also related to 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.

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 Chelicerata, class Arachnida, order Acarina.

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.

Gardener's Dictionary: 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).

Wikipedia: Mite
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A microscopic mite Lorryia formosa.

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) 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.

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[1]. 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.

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).

Contents

Systematics

In the usual taxonomy, the ticks form one of several superfamilies in the taxon comprising the mites. For the systematics of mites, see Acarina.

Allergy

Mites cause several forms of allergic diseases, including hay fever, asthma and eczema and are known to aggravate atopic dermatitis.[1] 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 which eventually induce hypersensitivity reaction.[2] Dust mite allergens are thought to be among the heaviest dust allergens.[3]

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.[4] Regular washing of mattresses and blankets with hot water can help in this regard.[5] Antihistamines are also useful; Cetirizine, for example, is shown to reduce allergic symptoms of patients.[6] However not all types of mites are infectious including the Alaskozetes antarcticus an arctic inhabiting mite.[7]

Rust mite
Aceria anthocoptes

Flat mite
Brevipalpus phoenicis

House dust mite
Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus

Yellow mite
Lorryia formosa

Yellow mite
Lorryia formosa

Plant mites forming a reproductive colony

Velvet mite

Convolvulus arvensis flower with velvet mites (Trombidium sp.)

See also

References

  1. ^ Klenerman, Paul; Lipworth, Brian; authors. "House dust mite allergy". NetDoctor. http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/health_advice/facts/allergyhousedustmite.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-20. 
  2. ^ "Hypersensitivity reaction to mite allergens". Allergy Guide. http://www.alergy.org.uk/mite-alergy.html. Retrieved 2008-02-20. 
  3. ^ "Dust allergens". AllergyEscape.com. http://www.allergyescape.com/dust-mites.html. Retrieved 2008-02-20. 
  4. ^ "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. 
  5. ^ "Rhinitis management.". National Guideline Clearinghouse. May 2003. http://www.guidelines.gov/summary/summary.aspx?doc_id=3875&nbr=003084. Retrieved 2008-02-20. 
  6. ^ Ciprandi G, Tosca M, Passalacqua G, Canonica GW (September 2001). "Long-term cetirizine treatment reduces allergic symptoms and drug prescriptions in children with mite allergy". Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 87 (2): 222–6. PMID 11570619. 
  7. ^ "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. 
  • Heethoff, M. & Koerner, L. (2007): Small but powerful – The oribatid mite Archegozetes longisetosus Aoki (Acari, Oribatida) produces disproportionate high forces. J. Exp. Biol. '210'(17): 3036–3042. doi:10.1242/jeb.008276 (Abstract).

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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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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
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. © 2006 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Thesaurus. Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary Copyright © 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Columbia Encyclopedia. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright © 2003, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. www.cc.columbia.edu/cu/cup/.  Read more
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
Gardener's Dictionary. Taylor's Dictionary for Gardeners, by Frances Tenenbaum. Copyright © 1997 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
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