{{Short description|Species of mite}} {{Speciesbox | image = Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.ART.1709 - Tyroglyphus casei (Oudemans) - Mites - Collection Anthonie Cornelis Oudemans.jpeg | image_caption = | taxon = Tyrophagus casei | authority = (Oudemans, 1910)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eol.org/pages/15836712 |title=''Tyrophagus casei'' (Oudemans, 1910) |work=Encyclopedia of Life |accessdate=August 3, 2011}}</ref> | synonyms = ''Tyrolichus casei'' <small>Oudemans, 1910</small> }}
'''''Tyrophagus casei''''', the '''cheese mite''', is a species of mite which is inoculated into ''{{lang|de|Milbenkäse}}'' and ''Altenburger Ziegenkäse'' cheese during their production. It is {{convert|0.45|-|0.70|mm}} long, and feeds on cheese, corn, flour, old honeycombs, bird collections{{clarification needed|date=January 2023}}, and smoked meats.<ref>{{cite book |author=Thomas Scott |year=1996 |title=Concise Encyclopedia: Biology |publisher=Walter de Gruyter |isbn=3-11-010661-2 |chapter=Acari |pages=[https://archive.org/details/conciseencyclope00scot/page/6 6]–7 |url=https://archive.org/details/conciseencyclope00scot|url-access=registration }}</ref>
The surface of cheese which has been colonised by mites may be covered with a fine, grey powder or bloom, due to the mites themselves and their moulted skin and faeces. These impart a distinctive "piquant" taste to various cheeses.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.the-piedpiper.co.uk/th7g.htm#cheesemite|title=Mites|website=www.the-piedpiper.co.uk}}</ref>
<gallery> Milbenkäse02.jpg|An aged ''{{lang|de|Milbenkäse}}'' – cheese matured using cheese mites </gallery>
==See also== *Cheese mite *Cheese fly or cheese skipper, ''Piophila casei''
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{cite news |url=http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7423847.stm |title=Cheese mites and other wonders |author=Finlo Rohrer |publisher=BBC News |date=May 29, 2008}} Includes ''The Cheese Mites'' (1903), the first science documentary meant for the public. *''A Parable'' by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, at Wikisource *''The Dying Whip'' by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, at Wikisource *[https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/4614 ''From a College Window'' by Arthur Christopher Benson], at Project Gutenberg
{{Acari}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q4568723}}
Category:Acaridae Category:Animals described in 1910 Category:Taxa named by Anthonie Cornelis Oudemans
{{Acari-stub}}