Acarodomatia

Acarodomatia (singular Acarodomatium) (Latin: Acari - mites, domus - dwelling), are tussocks of hairs or nonglandular trichomes located in pits situated in major leaf vein axes of many plant species, occupied and caused by predatory and mycophagous mites.[1]

Acarodomatia have also been described from lizards where they are commonly called "mite pockets".[2] These cavities or skin folds are usually located around the neck or behind the legs and occupied by chiggers. Their function is debated,[3] but they are thought to distract mites from damaging or blocking important skin surfaces such as the tympans.[4]

See also

References
  1. Biology definitions
  2. Bertrand, M.; Modrý, D. (2004). "The role of mite pocket-like structures on Agama caudospinosa (Agamidae) infested by Pterygosoma livingstonei sp. n. (Acari: Prostigmata: Pterygosomatidae)". Folia Parasitologica. 51 (1): 61–66. doi:10.14411/FP.2004.009. PMID 15139379. S2CID 3618881.
  3. Bauer, Aaron M.; Russell, Anthony P.; Dollahon, Norman R. (2011-02-15). "Function of the mite pockets of lizards: a reply to E.N. Arnold". Canadian Journal of Zoology. 71 (4): 865–868. doi:10.1139/z93-112.
  4. Salvador, Alfredo; Veiga, José P.; Civantos, Emilio (1999). "Do Skin Pockets of Lizards Reduce the Deleterious Effects of Ectoparasites? An Experimental Study with Psammodromus algirus". Herpetologica. 55 (1): 1–7. ISSN 0018-0831. JSTOR 3893063.


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