Metazoa info

[Duke Guilmon]

Demodex folliculorum



Size:0.1-0.4mm long

Weight:Not known

Life expectancy:18-24 days

When it first appeared:Not known

Location:This mite is found in hair follicles of mammals, including humans

Taxonomy:
Class:Arachnida
Subclass:Acari
Superorder:Acariformes
Order:Trombidiformes
Familyemodicidae
Genusemodex
Speciesemodex folliculorum

Diet:This animal feeds on the dead skin of mammals

Anatomy:This animal is strange for a mite not by its size, but by its tail. This animal has also evolved scales and tiny claws to make it easier to hold on to its host

Behavior:This animal spends its life on mammal hair eating its dead skin. These animals are active at both day and night. During the day they eat the dead skin of the host. At night males will search for a mate.

Reproduction:When night falls they begin to mate. When a male and female find each other they will begin to mate. They males in this species have a penis between their first and second legs. After they are done mating, the female will lay their eggs inside the hair follicles. The eggs grow until packed and they are moved by the sebaceous flow. It takes 7 days to become sexually mature

Relationship with other animals: This arachnid depends on mammals to survive. This animal is considered a parasite and will cause some skin problems if they get out of hand.



Remember, these things have sex on your face every day

Other sources:

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/ac...--Demodex/


http://biology.clc.uc.edu/courses/bio108...0intro.htm