Introduction to Diagnostic Medical Parasitology
Pyroglyphidae
Virtual Microscope
![](/.imaging/mte/default-theme/parasiteImage/dam/parasites/Ectoparasites/Mites/House-dust-mites/Pyroglyphidae/Hausstaubmilbe.png/jcr:content/Hausstaubmilbe.png)
![](/.imaging/mte/default-theme/parasiteImage/dam/parasites/Ectoparasites/Mites/House-dust-mites/Pyroglyphidae/Hausstaubmilbe2.png/jcr:content/Hausstaubmilbe2.png)
Characteristics / Biology of Acarina
- 8 legs (exception: some larval stages of mites and ticks have only 6 legs)
- Mites have capitulum («head» with mouth parts)
- Spheric body
- Pronounced capitulum with mouth parts
- Hard dorsal shield in case of hard ticks
- Incomplete metamorphosis (hemimetabole development) (larvae look the same as adults)
- Itch mite (scabies): feeding on cell and lymph fluid, female creates burrows in the skin
- Hosts: Wild animals and pets, human
•Medical significance:
- Food and house dust mites: allergic reactions, irritation of skin, asthma