Subphylum Acarina

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house dust mite

• The subphylum Acarina is among the most diverse and successful of all invertebrate groups having exploited a vast range of life-modes and habitats.
• They reach sizes of up to only 3mm, however, the largest trombiform mites can reach up to 12mm in size.
• The earliest mites have been found in the Devonian Rhynie Chert of Scotland, however the best fossil mites are known from Oligocene Baltic amber.
• Many species within the Acarina are parasitic, some are aquatic inhabiting even marine, as well as fresh-water habitats.
• Many Rhynie Chert examples have been found preserved in empty plant sporangia suggesting that some species had adopted a herbivorous feeding strategy by the early Devonian.

Author: Ceri Thomas
Last updated: 22.11.05
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