Sarcoptidae

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: 

• skin irritations, skin rash