How do Demodex mites look? - briefly
Demodex mites are microscopic, elongated arachnids measuring roughly 0.3–0.4 mm in length, with a translucent, cigar‑shaped body and six short legs clustered near the anterior end. They feature a narrow feeding tube on the gnathosoma and lack eyes, wings, or external segmentation.
How do Demodex mites look? - in detail
Demodex mites are microscopic arachnids measuring approximately 0.3–0.4 mm in length. Their bodies are elongated, resembling a narrow, slightly curved cigar. The cuticle is soft and translucent, allowing internal structures to be faintly visible under light microscopy.
The organism is divided into two main regions. The anterior portion, the gnathosoma, contains the mouthparts and a short, pointed rostrum used for feeding on sebum and cellular debris. The posterior region, the idiosoma, houses the digestive tract, reproductive organs, and a series of short, unsegmented legs. Four pairs of legs are situated near the anterior end; each leg terminates in claw-like structures that aid in anchoring to hair follicles or sebaceous glands.
Key morphological features include:
- Absence of eyes, antennae, and wings.
- Two distinct species commonly found on human skin:
- Demodex folliculorum – average length 0.35 mm; inhabits hair follicles, often forming small colonies.
- Demodex brevis – slightly shorter, about 0.25 mm; resides deeper within sebaceous glands.
- A soft, flexible exoskeleton that permits movement through narrow follicular canals.
- Reproductive anatomy consisting of paired testes and an ovary located in the posterior half of the body.
Under high‑magnification imaging, the mites display a clear demarcation between the gnathosoma and idiosoma, with the latter appearing as a smooth, elongated tube. The legs are slender, each bearing two terminal claws that grip the epithelial walls of the follicle.
«Demodex mites are microscopic ectoparasites that exhibit a simple, elongated body plan optimized for navigating the confined environment of human hair follicles and sebaceous glands.»