How long do mites live and what do they feed on? - briefly
Most mite species survive from several days up to a few months, with some predatory varieties living up to a year under optimal conditions. Their nutrition ranges from plant sap, pollen, and fungal spores to decaying organic matter and the bodily fluids of animals.
How long do mites live and what do they feed on? - in detail
Mite longevity varies widely among taxa. Some species complete a full generation within a week, while others persist for several months under favorable conditions. Adult lifespan typically ranges from a few days in fast‑reproducing herbivores to over three months in parasitic or predatory forms.
Key determinants include ambient temperature, relative humidity, host availability, and nutritional quality. Higher temperatures accelerate development but may shorten adult survival; low humidity often limits survival of soft‑bodied species. Access to a suitable food source extends the reproductive period and delays senescence.
Typical life‑span figures for representative groups:
- House dust mites (Dermatophagoides spp.) – egg to adult: 5‑7 days; adult: 2‑4 weeks.
- Spider mites (Tetranychidae) – egg to adult: 5‑10 days; adult: 1‑3 weeks.
- Predatory mites (Phytoseiidae) – egg to adult: 5‑8 days; adult: 2‑4 weeks.
- Scabies mites (Sarcoptes scabiei) – egg to adult: 3‑4 days; adult: 1‑2 months within a human host.
- Bee mites (Varroa destructor) – egg to adult: 5‑6 days; adult: 5‑12 days on a bee, up to several weeks in the brood cell.
- Storage mites (Acarus siro) – egg to adult: 7‑10 days; adult: 2‑3 weeks.
Feeding strategies correspond closely to lifespan patterns:
- Detritivores (e.g., house dust mites) ingest shed skin cells, fungal spores, and organic dust.
- Phytophagous mites (spider mites) puncture plant cells and ingest the resulting sap.
- Predators (Phytoseiidae) capture and consume other small arthropods, eggs, or mite larvae.
- Ectoparasites (scabies, Varroa) pierce host epidermis or hemolymph, extracting tissue fluids and, in the case of Varroa, also feeding on developing brood.
- Saprophages (storage mites) feed on mold, yeast, and decaying grain residues.
Mites employ chelicerae adapted for their specific diet: piercing‑sucking mouthparts for liquid intake, serrated chelicerae for scraping plant tissue, or robust claws for grasping prey. Some species exhibit opportunistic behavior, shifting between detritus and live prey when resources fluctuate.
Understanding the precise duration of each developmental stage and the nutritional requirements of target species enables effective management. Interventions that disrupt temperature or humidity, eliminate host availability, or introduce specific predators can curtail population growth by shortening adult longevity or denying essential food sources.