What does a bed mite larva look like? - briefly
A bed mite larva is a translucent, elongated organism roughly 0.2 mm in length, bearing three pairs of short legs near the front. Its pale yellow to nearly colorless body lacks the hardened dorsal shield characteristic of mature mites.
What does a bed mite larva look like? - in detail
The larval stage of a bed mite is a microscopic arthropod measuring approximately 0.15–0.30 mm in length. The body is elongated‑oval, largely transparent to pale yellow, allowing internal organs to be faintly visible. It consists of two principal regions: the gnathosoma (mouthparts) at the anterior tip and the idiosoma forming the bulk of the torso.
Key morphological characteristics include:
- Three pairs of legs – each leg terminates in a short claw and bears fine sensory setae; legs are markedly shorter than those of the adult.
- Six‑leg configuration – unlike nymphs and adults, which possess eight legs, the larva retains only six.
- Simple eyes (ocelli) – a pair of minute, non‑pigmented ocelli may be present on the dorsal surface of the gnathosoma.
- Absence of a hardened dorsal shield – the cuticle is soft and flexible, lacking the sclerotized plate seen in mature stages.
- Reduced mouthparts – the chelicerae are slender and adapted for piercing, without the robust stylet apparatus of the adult.
The larva’s cuticle is smooth, with sparse, fine setae distributed along the dorsal and ventral surfaces. Respiratory openings (spiracles) are not yet developed; gas exchange occurs directly through the thin integument. After a period of 2–4 days, the larva molts into a six‑legged nymph, which subsequently acquires the additional two legs characteristic of the adult form.