Mites of Processed Food

Latin Name:

Order Acarina

Appearance:

Tiny and not visible to naked eye.

Habit:

Destroy stored products.

Diet:

Mushroom mite feeds on mushrooms and will also infest: cheese, grain, cereal products and dried meats. Grain mite attacks grain and cereal products with a moisture content above 12 percent.

Reproduction:

See Mites.

Other:

Difficult to control once an infestation occurs. Can be prevented by keeping moisture content of stored food low.