ABSTRACT
Mites are small to minute arthropods of the class Arachnida, subclass Acari. They are characterized by their small size, four pairs of walking legs and, in most cases, a complete lack of body segmentation. Acaroid mites belong to a larger group known as the astigmatid mites, recognized by their lack of stigmata or external breathing pores. Most other mites possess a pair of pores resembling spiracles that are located either at the base of the chelicerae or between the bases of one or another pairs of legs. Acaroid mites are mites of the related families Acaridae, Lardoglyphidae, Suidasiidae and Glycacaridae. At low magnifications, as used for examining filth extraction filter papers, acaroid mites are recognized by a distinctive combination of morphological characteristics that differentiate them from other mites. At higher magnifications, adult acaroid mites exhibit six pairs of distinctive appendages.
