# Flour mite

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{{Short description|Species of mite}}
{{Speciesbox
| image= Grain mite 1.JPG
| taxon = Acarus siro
| authority = [Linnaeus](/source/Carl_Linnaeus), [1758](/source/10th_edition_of_Systema_Naturae)
}}

The '''flour mite''', '''''Acarus siro''''', a pest of stored [grain](/source/grain)s and animal feedstuffs,<ref>{{cite journal |author1=J. A. Dunn |author2=B. B. Thind |author3=C. Danks |author4=J. Chambers |title=Rapid method for the detection of storage mites in cereals: feasibility of an ELISA based approach |journal=[Bulletin of Entomological Research](/source/Bulletin_of_Entomological_Research) |volume=98 |issue=2 |pages=207–213 |date=April 2008 |pmid=18279566 |doi=10.1017/S0007485308005634 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author1=L. M. I. Webster |author2=R. H. Thomas |author3=G. P. McCormack |year=2004 |title=Molecular systematics of ''Acarus si'' s. lat., a complex of stored food pests |journal=[Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution](/source/Molecular_Phylogenetics_and_Evolution) |volume=32 |issue=3 |pages=817–822 |doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2004.04.005|pmid=15288058 }}</ref> is one of many species of grain and flour mites.<ref>{{cite book|author=Jerome Goddard|title=Physician's guide to arthropods of medical importance|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rWMeblT89DUC&pg=PA248|accessdate=14 April 2010|date=30 March 2007|publisher=CRC Press|isbn=978-0-8493-8539-1|pages=248–}}</ref>  An older name for the species is ''Tyroglyphus farinae''.<ref>{{cite journal|author=International Rice Research Institute|title=IRRN|journal=International Rice Research Notes|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_5K9wN3g5AcsC|accessdate=14 April 2010|date=1 January 1989|publisher=IRRI|pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_5K9wN3g5AcsC/page/n38 39]–|issn=0115-0944}}</ref>

The flour mite, which is pale greyish white in colour with pink legs, is the most common species of [mite](/source/mite) in foodstuffs. The males are from {{convert|0.33|-|0.43|mm}} long and the female is from {{convert|0.36|-|0.66|mm|abbr=on}} long. The flour mites are found in grain and may become exceedingly abundant in poorly stored material. The female produces large clutches of eggs and the [life cycle](/source/Biological_life_cycle) takes just over two weeks. The cast skins and dead bodies can form a fluffy brown material that accumulates under sacks on the warehouse floor.<ref name=USGPO>{{cite book|title=Stored-grain Pests|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HVQhqHzP0SwC&pg=PA41|year=1955|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|pages=41–42}}</ref>

Flour mites that contaminate grains, flour and animal feedstuffs, create [allergen](/source/allergen)s in the dust produced, and also transfer [pathogen](/source/pathogen)ic microorganisms. Foodstuffs acquire a sickly sweet smell and an unpalatable taste.<ref name=USGPO/> When fed infested feeds, animals show reduced feed intake, diarrhea, inflammation of the small intestine, and impaired growth. Pigs have their live-weight gain, feed-to-gain ratio, and nitrogen retention markedly reduced by infested feeds.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Braude, R. |author2=Low, A.G. |author3=Mitchell, K.G. |author4=Pittman, R.J. |author5=Wilkin, D.R. |year=1980 |title=Effect of flour mite infestation (''Acarus siro'' L.) on nutritive value of pig diets. |journal=Veterinary Record |volume=106 |issue=2 |pages=35–36 |doi=10.1136/vr.106.2.35 |pmid=7361400 |url=https://www.cabdirect.org/cabdirect/abstract/19800570519 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

Flour mites are intentionally inoculated into [Mimolette](/source/Mimolette) cheese to improve the flavor.<ref name = Species>{{cite journal |first1 = J.P. |last1 = Melnyk |first2 = A. |last2 = Scott-Dupree |first3 = M.F. |last3 = Marcone |first4 = A. |last4 = 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 |last5 = Hill |first5 = A.|url = https://atrium.lib.uoguelph.ca/xmlui/bitstream/10214/2629/1/cheese.pdf |doi-access = free }}</ref>  When used for this purpose, they may be referred to as "[cheese mite](/source/cheese_mite)s".

The mites sometimes bite humans, which can cause an allergic reaction known as [Baker's itch](/source/Baker's_itch).<ref>{{cite book|author1=Robert L. Rietschel|author2=Joseph F. Fowler Jr.|title=Fisher's contact dermatitis|date=2008|publisher=BC Decker Inc.|location=Hamilton|isbn=9781550093780|page=428|edition=6th}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Hill|first1=Dennis S.|title=Pests of Stored Foodstuffs and Their Control|date=2003|publisher=Kluwer Academic Publishers|location=Dordrecht|isbn=9780306481314|page=129}}</ref><gallery>
File:9-Acarus siro male ventr DIC40 BMOC 01-0903-003.jpg|''A. siro'' male, adult, ventral view
File:7-Acarus siro female ventr BF20 BMOC 01-0903-003.jpg|''A. siro'' female, adult, ventral view
File:2-Acarus siro HDN vent BF40 BMOC 86-0401-003.jpg|''A. siro'' [phoretic deutonymph](/source/Life_stages_of_mites), ventral view.
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [List of mites associated with cutaneous reactions](/source/List_of_mites_associated_with_cutaneous_reactions)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-and-Prevent-Flour-Mites Wikihow] How to Get Rid of and Prevent Flour Mites (domestic infestations)

{{Taxonbar|from=Q2577263}}
{{Authority control}}

Category:Acaridae
Category:Agricultural pest mites
Category:Arachnids described in 1758
Category:Animal taxa named by Carl Linnaeus

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Flour mite](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flour_mite) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flour_mite?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.