Cheese mite

{{short description|Mite used in cheese production}} [[File:Cheese mite.jpg|thumb|250px|''Tyrophagus putrescentiae'' is one of several mite species referred to as cheese mites (Ref Georgia Fife-Wright study of 2021). This species is common on plant leaves, stored grain and animal feed.]] '''Cheese mites''' are mites (for instance ''Tyrophagus casei'' or other species) that are used to produce such cheeses as ''{{lang|de|Milbenkäse}}'', Cantal and Mimolette. The action of the living mites on the surface of these cheeses contributes to the flavor and gives them a distinctive appearance.<ref name=Mimolette>{{cite web |url = http://www.cheesefacts.org/mimolette_cheese/mimolette_cheese.html |title = Mimolette Cheese |year = 2007 |work = Cheese Facts |accessdate = 7 September 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110906080219/http://www.cheesefacts.org/mimolette_cheese/mimolette_cheese.html |archive-date = 2011-09-06 |url-status = dead }}</ref> A 2010 scanning electron microscope study found that ''Milbenkäse'' cheese was produced using ''Tyrophagus casei'' mites, while Mimolette cheese used ''Acarus siro'' mites (also known as flour mites).<ref name = Species>{{cite journal |first1 = J.P. |last1 = Melnyk |first2 = A. |last2 = Smith |first3 = C. |last3 = Scott-Dupree |first4 = M.F. |last4 = Marcone |first5 = A. |last5 = Hill |date=August 2010 |title = Identification of cheese mite species inoculated on Mimolette and Milbenkase cheese through cryogenic scanning electron microscopy |journal = Journal of Dairy Science |volume = 93 |issue = 8 |pages = 3461–3468 |doi = 10.3168/jds.2009-2937 |pmid = 20655414|doi-access = free |hdl = 10214/2629 |hdl-access = free }}</ref> Mimolette cheese, in particular, has live cheese mites in its rind, which is thought to contribute to the cheese's distinct rind texture.<ref>Barile, D. (2021). Can cheese mites, maggots and molds enhance bioactivity? Peptidomic investigation of functional peptides in four traditional cheeses. ''Food & Function.'', ''12''(2), 633–645. {{doi|10.1039/d0fo02439b}}</ref>

Some cheese mite species, such as ''Tyrophagus putrescentiae'' and ''Acarus siro,'' are mycophagous and the fungus species they digest are determined by the digestive enzymatic properties accordingly of each species.<ref>De Dea Lindner, J. (2018). Stored products mites in cheese ripening: Health aspects, technological and regulatory challenges in Brazil. ''Journal of Stored Products Research.'', ''76'', 116–121. {{doi|10.1016/j.jspr.2018.01.010}}</ref>

==Gallery== <gallery> Acarus siro 1.ogv| A video of cheese mites (''Acarus siro'') forming the rind of a mimolette cheese. Mimolette1.jpg|Mimolette cheese displaying the textured crust caused by the mites Milbekéis.jpg|Milbenkäse, a German cheese with cheese mites Casu Marzu cheese.jpg|Casu martzu, a rotten cheese from Sardinia, Italy, is a traditional sheep milk cheese that contains live maggots as well as cheese mites. </gallery>

==See also== * Cheese fly, ''Piophila casei'' *''The Cheese Mites'', a 1903 documentary film

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Microscopic animals Category:Mites and humans Category:Mites as food Category:Cheesemaking Category:Arthropod common names