Product Description

Mites are predators, parasites, herbivores and detritivores. They live in the dark depths of the ocean, in the lungs of birds, on the leaves of rainforest plants, and in human clothes and bedding. They are vectors of disease, vital players in soil formation, and important agents of biological control. Despite the grand diversity of mites, these small arthropods are often overlooked, and even trained biologists can be unaware of their significance. This book helps the reader to understand mites. It surveys life cycles, feeding behaviour, reproductive biology and host-associations of mites, without requiring prior knowledge of their morphology or taxonomy. Topics covered include evolution of mites and other arachnids, mites in soil and water, mites on plants and animals, sperm transfer and reproduction, and mites as models of ecological and evolutionary theories.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1727708 in Books
• Published on: 1999-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: .99" h x 6.86" w x 10.80" l, 1.72 pounds
• Binding: Hardcover
• 352 pages

Review

"This book surveys life cycles, feeding behavior, reproductive biology, and host associations of mites. Topics include: evolution of mites and other arachnids, mites in soil and water, mites on plants and animals, sperm transfer and reproduction, and mites as models of ecological and evolutionary theories."--Entomological News

"Before I read this book mites were just small arthropods that were responsible for clogging up berlese samples and that itchy feeling after hiking. Never again. I now know that the Acari exhibit a multitude of feeding and sexual behaviors, and comprise somewhere between 0.5 and 1 million species. The authors have produced a very digestible entry into the extensive and scattered literature on mite ecology and behavior, and their enthusiasm for the subject leaps from the page. ... The authors are very well known for their beautiful scanning electron micrographs of mites that render the external anatomy of mites in exquisite detail, and the illustrations