Mites are diminutive creatures, typically measuring less than 1 mm in length, possessing eight legs. A multitude of mite species possess mouthparts designed for piercing and extracting blood.
Mites belonging to certain species have the potential to induce various disorders. For instance, the scabies mite can burrow into human skin, leading to intense itching; the house-dust mite, when inhaled, may trigger asthma; and chiggers (American harvest mites), residing in grass, can cause itchy rashes through their bites. Mites present in grains or fruits can result in skin irritation, often referred to as grocers’ or bakers’ itch. Some mites serve as carriers of diseases, notably scrub typhus and rickettsial pox.