Carpoglyphus lactis

Definition

A species of astigmatid mite in the family Carpoglyphidae, commonly known as the dried-fruit mite or cheese mite. This small, globular mite feeds on dried fruits, cheese, and other high-sugar or high-fat stored products, making it a significant pest in food storage and a common contaminant in dairy processing facilities. Adults are pale whitish with short, stubby legs and reduced body sclerotization typical of astigmatid mites that inhabit humid, nutrient-rich microhabitats.

Etymology

From Greek karpos (fruit) + glyphein (to carve/engrave), referring to the type genus of fruit-associated mites; lactis from Latin lac (milk), alluding to its common occurrence in cheese.

Example

Infestations of Carpoglyphus lactis in dried fig warehouses can cause population explosions exceeding 10,000 mites per kilogram, triggering allergic responses in workers and rendering products unmarketable due to visible contamination and off-flavors from mite metabolic byproducts.

Synonyms

• dried-fruit mite
• cheese mite

Related Terms

• Acari
• Astigmata
• stored-product pest
• Carpoglyphidae
• Tyrophagus putrescentiae
• mite allergy
• food contamination

Usage Notes

Distinguished from the similar cheese mite Tyrophagus putrescentiae by body shape and setal patterns; identification requires slide-mounting and microscopic examination. The species epithet is sometimes attributed to Linnaeus 1758 or 1767 in older literature due to historical taxonomic revisions. Not to be confused with grain mites (Acaridae) or house-dust mites (Pyroglyphidae) despite overlapping habitats.